Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu has once again reaffirmed his country’s unwavering position regarding the military operation in the Gaza Strip, clearly indicating that the Israeli government sees no alternative but to continue fighting until its objectives are fully achieved
In his latest statement, made on Saturday, he emphasized that the ultimate goal of Israel’s military campaign is to destroy the Hamas infrastructure, free all hostages, and ensure the security of the country’s citizens. According to the head of government, Israeli forces will act for as long as necessary until these three key objectives are met. Moreover, Netanyahu accused the Palestinian group of rejecting the latest proposal for a prisoner exchange — releasing half of the hostages in exchange for a humanitarian ceasefire. “We will not stop until we achieve our final goal — the complete destruction of Hamas, the release of all hostages, and guarantees that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to our country’s security,” he stressed. In his speech, the Prime Minister also reaffirmed Israel’s unwavering stance regarding Iran’s nuclear program, assuring citizens that all possible means would be used to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, as this remains one of his government’s top foreign policy priorities. Amid these statements, internal pressure on the country’s leadership is growing. Families of Israeli hostages, as well as reservists and former military personnel, are increasingly calling for a review of the strategy and an end to military operations. They complain that the escalation of the conflict and excessive harshness are reducing the chances for diplomatic resolution. Furthermore, political critics have expressed concern that Israeli authorities have yet to establish a diplomatic path to reconciliation after last month’s ceasefire, which was shattered early in the conflict. Operational data from the Israeli army indicate that over 40 Hamas militants were eliminated in Gaza during the past weekend. It is also reported that on Saturday, the first Israeli soldier casualty since the beginning of the new wave of fighting was recorded — his body was found in northern Gaza. This marks the first such loss since Israel officially resumed hostilities against the Palestinian group on March 18. Israeli forces now plan to intensify strikes across Gaza, aiming to create broad "security zones" within the territory, which is home to over two million residents. At the same time, this strategy raises concerns within the international community over the potential worsening of the humanitarian crisis and civilian casualties. Hamas, for its part, insists on the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the sector, demanding a return to the status quo prior to the outbreak of hostilities, and emphasizing their intention to defend their territories by any means necessary. Accidental or deliberate escalation of the conflict has prompted international mediators to hurriedly propose ceasefire efforts, though with limited success. As a reminder, in January, Israel approved a ceasefire agreement with Hamas and the release of hostages. However, by February and March, international players, including the United States and their President Donald Trump, called for a reevaluation of these agreements due to the inability to free all hostages and a lack of trust in Hamas’s commitments. The resumption of military actions on March 18 continued this tension, and international mediator efforts remain largely stalled. Thus, the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, and prospects for a quick resolution to the conflict remain doubtful. Ukrainian analysts note that despite strict external policies and diplomatic efforts, confrontation is likely to persist, with the main victims being the peaceful residents of the region.