‘We Hit the Terror Group Hard,’ Netanyahu Says After Ceasefire With Hamas Proclaimed
“The public does not know everything yet, nor does Hamas. Our accomplishments will be revealed in time,” the prime minister said.
By Atara Beck, World Israel News
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the Hamas terror organization against any further rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip several hours after the security cabinet had agreed to a ceasefire, which took effect at 2 a.m. Friday morning.
“If Hamas thinks we will tolerate a drizzle of rockets, it is wrong,” the Israeli leader said in an address to the nation early Friday afternoon, vowing to respond with “a new level of force against any expression of aggression against communities around Gaza and any other part of Israel.”
“We hit the terror group hard. The public does not know everything yet, nor does Hamas. Our accomplishments will be revealed in time. At this point I can say that we did bold, unprecedented things, without getting drawn into unnecessary adventures,” Netanyahu said. “We managed to cause serious harm to Hamas, with minimal harm to Israel.”
The prime minister thanked the Israeli people for “standing strong” during the 11 days of Operation Guardian of the Walls. “We struck at most of Hamas’ capabilities,” he said.
“Most citizens see that we operated with determination and … prevented needless loss of human lives,” Netanyahu said, adding that had a ground incursion into Gaza been deemed necessary, it would have been carried out.
“We did the maximum damage to Hamas, with minimum risk to soldiers,” he said.
This war with Hamas “was not like the others,” said Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief Nadav Argaman. It “could be a reality-changing operation. The rules of the game have changed.”
“Hamas before this operation is not like Hamas the day after,” he added.
Defense Minister: Hamas Claims of Victory ‘Completely False’
Hamas supporters have been celebrating the ceasefire in Gaza and elsewhere, claiming “victory.”
Defense Minister Benny Gantz belittled the Hamas claims, calling them “completely false.”
“We have achieved all the operational goals we have set, “Ganz said. “We have taken a very heavy toll on Hamas. We set it back years…
“We have harmed many enemy operational capabilities and eliminated more than 200 terrorist operatives, including very senior ones. We have thwarted Hamas’ plans to carry out infiltration attacks, send UAVs and operate from the naval arena.”
He also praised the IDF for its “unprecedented military achievements in terms of forcefulness, precision and strategic importance in the fight against terror groups in the Gaza Strip.”
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The post ‘We Hit the Terror Group Hard,’ Netanyahu Says After Ceasefire With Hamas Proclaimed first appeared on United with Israel.
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