Netanyahu calls for unity to achieve victory over Hamas terror
Security cabinet met in Tel Aviv
Before the start of the security cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on all citizens of Israel to unite in order to defeat Hamas terror.
The Gaza-based Hamas terror organization began a large-scale attack against Israel on Saturday morning, which has been ongoing and so far has claimed at least 40 dead and over 750 injured.
“Since this morning, the State of Israel has been at war,” Netanyahu stated before the meeting of the cabinet in the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv.
“Our first objective is to clear out the hostile forces that infiltrated our territory and restore the security and quiet to the communities that have been attacked. The second objective, at the same time, is to exact an immense price from the enemy, within the Gaza Strip as well. The third objective is to reinforce other fronts so that nobody should mistakenly join this war," said Netanyahu.
“We are at war. In war, one needs to be level-headed. I call on all citizens of Israel to unite in order to achieve our highest goal – victory in the war.”
In an earlier statement, Netanyahu stressed: “Citizens of Israel, we are at war. This isn’t an operation, not another 'round,' but war."
“This morning Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. We've been at it since early morning. I convened the heads of the security system, first of all, I ordered to cleanse the settlements of the terrorists who infiltrated – this operation is being carried out during these hours.”
“At the same time, I ordered an extensive reserve mobilization and a retaliatory war of a strength and scope that the enemy did not know yet. The enemy will pay a price he has never known yet. In the meantime, I call on all citizens of Israel to strictly obey the instructions of the army and the instructions of the Home Command. We are in a war and we will win it,” the statement read.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.