Netanyahu: Israel Will Not Halt Gaza War Until Hostages Are Freed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Friday that Israel will not stop its military operations in Gaza until all hostages are released.

Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly, Netanyahu stressed, “We must complete our mission in Gaza. The war will end only when Hamas surrenders and hands over the captives.” He reiterated that recognizing a Palestinian state would be tantamount to “national suicide” for Israel.

The prime minister said remnants of Hamas still remain in Gaza and vowed that Israel is working to dismantle the group’s rule completely. He also revealed that loudspeakers had been set up in Gaza to deliver his message directly to the hostages: “We will not stop until we bring you home.”

Netanyahu accused Hamas of being responsible for civilian suffering in Gaza, including hunger, claiming that the group seizes aid meant for the population and uses civilians as human shields. He dismissed accusations of genocide, insisting Israel is taking additional measures to minimize civilian casualties during its operations.

Addressing the question of Palestinian statehood, Netanyahu argued that Palestinians reject the idea of a Jewish state and instead seek to establish a state “at Israel’s expense.” He said Western countries recognizing a Palestinian state are “encouraging the killing of Jews,” calling such moves “shameful” and “a form of madness.”

“The problem is not with a Palestinian state but with the Jewish state,” Netanyahu stated, adding that Palestinian refusal to accept Israel as a Jewish state has fueled the ongoing conflict.

He further asserted that promises to reform the Palestinian Authority have not been fulfilled, emphasizing that rejecting a Palestinian state is not just his government’s stance but “the will of the Israeli people.”