As Israel’s political-security cabinet met late Saturday to deliberate how to respond to Hamas’ terror strike, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that security for Israeli civilians would be “restored” and the nation will triumph.
According to a statement from Israel’s Prime Minister’s office, the Israeli cabinet also adopted a “series of operational decisions aimed at bringing about the destruction of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority’s military and governmental capabilities.”
“We are embarking on a long and difficult war. The war was forced upon us by a murderous attack by Hamas,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, adding, “The first phase ends at these hours by the destruction of the majority of the enemy forces that penetrated our territory. At the same time, we started the offensive formation, and it will continue without reservation and without respite until the objectives are achieved.”
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel wants to ensure that Hamas does not pose a threat or cause harm to Israeli civilians in the future.
“The goal is to achieve the destruction of the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in a way that will preclude their ability and willingness to threaten and attack the citizens of Israel for many years,” Netanyahu said.
“We will restore security to the citizens of Israel and we will win,” the Israel PM, said, adding, “Among the decisions made by the cabinet are the stopping of the supply of electricity, fuel and goods.”
On the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah on Saturday, Hamas launched thousands of rockets and sent dozens of militants into Israeli cities near the Gaza Strip in an extraordinary offensive that few Israelis saw coming.
