Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke during a Knesset debate on Wednesday about the IDF’s progress in destroying Hamas’s “neo-Nazi regime” in Gaza. He told opposition lawmakers that, if it were up to them, they “would have given up a long time ago.”
“You would end the war without eliminating commanders, without control of Rafah and the Philadelphi [Corridor], and [Hamas “military” leader] Mohammed Deif would walk around as a winner,” Netanyahu said. “Instead of dropping a bomb on him, you would give him a gas agreement in Gaza, just like you gave to [Hezbollah chief Hassan] Nasrallah in Lebanon.”
Netanyahu stated his remaining objectives, saying, “This is what we are going to do: Eliminate this neo-Nazi regime in Gaza. We are coming to eliminate the governmental and military capabilities of Hamas, and we are making progress towards this goal. … We are determined to win the war. We are determined to return all our hostages. The key is pressure, pressure and more pressure. And I want to share two secrets with you: One, pressure should be directed at [Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya] Sinwar and not at the Israeli prime minister. Two, pressure on me will not work.”
Netanyahu understandably sounds fed up with the continuing war and the resulting pressure he faces. Though stated somewhat forcefully, Netanyahu’s instruction to his political opponents to apply pressure to Hamas rather than himself is an important message. It was readily accepted in October but is a needed reminder nine months into the war, as it has become easier for the prime minister’s opponents to drift away from unity. But Netanyahu is correct: Let’s not waste time in completing Israel’s objectives to end this war. The IDF’s accomplishments are impressive, but it’s time to finish the job and completely dismantle the terrorist organization that provides an existential threat to the only Jewish nation in the world.
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