‘Every Hamas member is a dead man’ – Netanyahu

In a late-night address on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning, declaring that every Hamas member is a target. The announcement came during a press conference held by the newly formed emergency government responsible for managing the ongoing conflict with the Palestinian group.

The emergency government includes Defense Minister Yoav Gallant from the Likud Party and former defense minister Benny Gantz, who leads the National Unity Party. As the conflict entered its sixth day, the Israeli government expressed its determination to eradicate Hamas.

Netanyahu emphasized that Israel was fighting on multiple fronts, adopting an offensive strategy. He made the chilling statement, “Every Hamas member is a dead man,” signifying the seriousness of the government’s resolve.

The Israeli Prime Minister likened Hamas to the Islamic State (ISIS), highlighting the gravity of their actions. He accused Palestinian militants of committing horrific acts, including burning people alive, r@pe, and the execution of children, during their invasion of Southern Israel. This attack, described as the deadliest in decades, prompted retaliatory air strikes by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Palestinian settlements in Gaza.

In response to the aggression, the Israeli government declared war, initiating Operation Swords of Iron. Defense Minister Gallant echoed Netanyahu’s resolve by vowing to obliterate Hamas, describing them as the “Islamic State of Gaza.”

In his statement, Gallant asserted that Hamas would be wiped from existence, emphasizing that there would be no toleration of Israeli children being harmed. He depicted the onslaught on Southern Israel as the worst terror attack ever seen globally, with thousands of terrorists involved in the destruction, looting, and slaughter.

As of the latest update from Al Jazeera, the death toll in Gaza has reached 1,200 people, with around 5,600 individuals sustaining injuries. The number of casualties in Israel has also increased to 1,200. The United Nations reported that 338,934 Palestinians have been displaced in Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli airstrikes. Furthermore, there have been allegations that Israel’s actions could potentially constitute a war crime, as noted by former Human Rights Watch chief Kenneth Roth.

Credit: Jerusalem Post