Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in no uncertain terms on Monday said his country will not oblige calls for a cease-fire as it takes on Hamas.
Meanwhile, Ori Megidish, a young female IDF soldier, was reunited with her family Monday, three weeks after being kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, the IDF said.
Pvt Megidish was released during expanding ground operations in Gaza, the Israeli military said on X.
Earlier Monday, Shani Louk, the young German-Israeli tattoo artist who was paraded through the streets of Gaza after being kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, has been found dead after “sadistic” terrorists “chopped off her head,” Israel’s president President Isaac Herzog told the German newspaper Bild.
Also, a Pentagon senior defense official revealed in a briefing Monday. that U.S. military and coalition forces have been attacked at least 23 times in Iraq and Syria during the past weeks — but that those attacks were mostly unsuccessful.
“I want to make clear Israel’s position regarding the cease-fire,” he said, going on to draw parallels to the United States’ response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attack.
The PM said that just like the US after those assaults, “Israel will not agree to a cessation of hostilities with Hamas after the horrific attacks of October 7.
“Calls for a cease-fire or calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorists, surrender to barbarism, that will not happen,” Netanyahu said during a briefing for foreign media at the defense ministry in Tel Aviv on Monday evening local time.
Netanyahu vowed that while “Israel did not want this war,” the Jewish nation will prevail.
“I want to make clear Israel’s position regarding the cease-fire,” he said, going on to draw parallels to the United States’ response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attack.
“This is a turning point,” Netanyahu said, during the roughly six-minute part of his address given in English. “A turning point for leaders and nations. It is a time for all of us to decide if we are willing to fight for a future of hope and promise, or surrender to tyranny and terrorism.
“Now rest assured: Israel will fight. Since Oct. 7, Israel has been at war. Israel did not start this war. Israel did not want this war. But Israel will win this war.”
“Now rest assured: Israel will fight. … Israel did not start this war. Israel did not want this war. But Israel will win this war,” Netanyahu said.
