Hamas has positioned itself not as a national and political rival but rather as an existential enemy of Israel. Its regime in Gaza cannot be allowed to continue to exist. Since there is no scenario where Hamas surrenders or leaves Gaza, Israel has no choice but to fight this war until it utterly defeats Hamas in Gaza.
"The terrorist wrote notes, marked the sections, and studied again and again, the ideology of Adolf Hitler to hate the Jews, to kill the Jews, to burn and slaughter Jews wherever they are. This is the real war we are facing," President Herzog reveals in interview with BBC.
One was a principal of a Jerusalem school; another worked in television and was part of the production team of the hit series "Fauda"; the third put on uniform and joined the war even though he had not been called up; and the fourth was about to begin his practicum in medical school.
Gaza hasn't collapsed yet. Neither has Hamas. However, what's happening is unprecedented in scale: The devastation, intensity, and scope look like nothing like past operations. If Israel stays the course, it has a real chance of achieving the goals it set. This will require focus, resolve, tough decisions, legitimacy, and also time and luck – but it's achievable.
A cease-fire would be possible only if all 239 hostages held by terrorists in Gaza were released, Netanyahu said in a televised address. Gallant responds to Macron: "We are not in 1943; we have the means and obligation to defend ourselves."
