Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said here that defeating Hamas is Israel’s main goal as well as securing the release of the hostages still held in Gaza.
“We have many goals in this war. We want to bring back all our hostages ... It is a very important goal ... But the war has a supreme objective, and this supreme objective is victory over our enemies,” Netanyahu made on Thursday the remarks during a speech as the country is marking its 77th Independence Day.
The remarks marked a shift from Netanyahu’s previous statements, in which he described the return of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza as equally important as defeating Hamas. They also came amid a stalemate in mediated talks over a potential ceasefire deal, and as weekly protests continue in Israel to demand an end to the war to secure the hostages’ release, while Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners insist the war must continue.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group representing most of the hostages’ families, issued a statement saying Netanyahu is “aligning” with his far-right ally and pro-settler leader Bezalel Smotrich, who has repeatedly declared that releasing the hostages “is not the most important goal” and has urged Netanyahu to reoccupy Gaza and hold it indefinitely, Xinhua news agency reported.
Speaking at a separate Independence Day ceremony in Jerusalem, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said the Israeli military “is ready and prepared to strike (Hamas) a decisive blow”. (IANS)
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