The prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahustated this Sunday that the country pays “a high price for war” in Loopafter the death of 14 soldiers since Friday in fighting against the Palestinian movement Hamas.
“We are paying a high price for war, but there is no other option but to continue fighting“Netanyahu declared at the beginning of a cabinet meeting after paying tribute to the dead soldiers and warning that the conflict will be “long”.
“We will continue with all our strength until the end, until victory, until we achieve all our objectives: the destruction of Hamasthe return of the hostages and a guarantee that Loop never again constitute a threat to the State of Israel“, said.
Israel vowed to annihilate Hamas, following the unprecedented attack by October 7 launched by his militiamen from the Gaza Strip in which some 1,140 people died, most of them civilians, according to an AFP count based on Israeli data.
The Israeli military response has left 20,424 dead in Gaza, mainly women and minors, according to Hamas, the Islamist movement that governs this Palestinian territory.
Since Israel began its ground offensive in Gaza on October 27, 153 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the Palestinian territory.
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“Let me be clear: the war will be long (…) until Hamas is eliminated and we restore security in both the north and the south”Netanyahu added.
Nearly 250 people were taken hostage during the attack launched by Hamas in southern Israel. There are still 129 people held captive in Gaza, although some of the hostages are feared dead.
