Netanyahu Vows War Will Continue Until Hamas Defeated \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed on Saturday that Israel will continue its military campaign in Gaza until Hamas is defeated, all hostages are freed, and Gaza no longer poses a threat. The ongoing war has led to mounting civilian casualties and growing domestic pressure. Aid groups warn of a worsening humanitarian crisis under Israel’s blockade.
Quick Looks
- Netanyahu says Israel has “no choice” but to continue war until Hamas is dismantled
- Over 90 Palestinians killed in 48 hours of Israeli strikes, Gaza Health Ministry reports
- The death toll includes children and women in areas marked as “humanitarian zones”
- Netanyahu claims Hamas rejected a deal to release half the hostages
- Israeli airstrikes continue across Gaza, including Khan Younis, Rafah, and Nuseirat
- Israel confirms one soldier was killed over the weekend, the first since March 18
- 59 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, 24 are believed to be alive
- Over 51,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, Gaza officials say
- Nearly 90% of Gaza’s population is displaced and facing malnutrition
- Aid agencies and WHO urge Israel to lift the blockade and allow humanitarian access
Deep Look
On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on his commitment to continue the war in Gaza, stating that Israel will not halt its military campaign until three conditions are met: the destruction of Hamas, the return of all hostages, and the assurance that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israeli security.
His statement comes as the death toll in Gaza continues to rise and domestic and international pressure mounts to reach a ceasefire agreement.
“We have no choice,” Netanyahu declared. “This war will not end until we achieve our objectives.”
Mounting Death Toll in Gaza
In the past 48 hours, more than 90 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which reports that women and children were among the dead. One strike on Khan Younis, a city in the south, hit tents in Muwasi, an area designated by Israel as a “humanitarian zone” for displaced people.
Hospitals in the region, already overwhelmed and under-equipped, reported harrowing scenes of grief as families mourned loved ones lost in the strikes. One man, cradling a child’s body, cried, “Omar is gone… I wish it was me.”
In Rafah, four more civilians were killed, including a mother and daughter, while another strike near Nuseirat killed at least one person, according to Al-Awda Hospital.
The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the weekend offensive, stating that it had targeted and killed over 40 Hamas militants. The army also confirmed that an Israeli soldier was killed in northern Gaza on Saturday, the first fatality since the war resumed on March 18.
The Hostage Crisis and Hamas’s Rejection of a Deal
The hostage situation remains a central issue. Netanyahu said Saturday that Hamas rejected Israel’s latest proposal to release half of the remaining hostages in exchange for a renewed ceasefire. Currently, 59 hostages are believed to be held by Hamas; 24 are thought to still be alive.
Families of the hostages, as well as retired and active-duty soldiers, have become increasingly vocal, protesting weekly in Israel to pressure the government into securing their release. The stalemate continues to test public patience and strain Israel’s political leadership.
Humanitarian Crisis: Gaza on the Brink
Gaza’s 2.3 million residents face dire conditions. Six weeks into a renewed Israeli blockade, food, fuel, and medical supplies are running critically low. Aid agencies report that thousands of children are malnourished, and most families are surviving on one sparse meal a day, if that.
The United Nations has warned of a potential famine, while the World Health Organization’s regional director, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, urged newly appointed U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, to personally visit Gaza and witness the devastation firsthand.
“I would wish for him to go in and see the situation himself,” Balkhy said, emphasizing the need for unrestricted humanitarian access.
Indefinite Occupation and Security Zones
Israel has stated its intent to establish “permanent security zones” inside Gaza, raising concerns about de facto occupation of large swaths of the territory even after military objectives are met.
Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., EU, Israel, and others, insists that Israeli forces must fully withdraw from Gaza before any serious negotiations can begin.
The structural destruction in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with entire neighborhoods flattened, water systems destroyed, and 90% of the population displaced. Tent cities now sprawl across the region, housing hundreds of thousands with limited access to sanitation, medical care, or clean water.
War’s Origins and Current Status
The current conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 hostages.
Israel responded with a massive military campaign aimed at destroying Hamas’s infrastructure and eliminating its leadership. Since then, the Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 51,000 Palestinians have been killed — a majority of them women and children, although the Ministry does not separate combatants from civilians in its statistics.
The war has dragged on for over six months, drawing condemnation from international humanitarian groups and raising alarm across the globe about the suffering of Gaza’s civilians.
Domestic Dissent Grows in Israel
While Netanyahu maintains strong support among his political base, criticism is growing within Israel. Protests are gaining momentum, not just from hostage families, but also from retired generals, reservists, and civil society leaders who question the ongoing military strategy.
Some argue that continuing the war without a long-term political solution risks entrenching both violence and instability, with no clear endgame in sight.
Others say the war is distracting from Israel’s domestic issues and risks further isolating the country internationally as it faces mounting scrutiny over civilian casualties and human rights concerns.
The Global Response and Diplomatic Pressure
International calls for a ceasefire and humanitarian corridor access have intensified. The U.S., while remaining Israel’s closest ally, has faced internal pressure to condition military aid on Israel’s cooperation with humanitarian agencies.
Several European governments, along with UN officials, have demanded an end to the blockade to allow the flow of food, medicine, and reconstruction materials.
Humanitarian watchdogs are also documenting allegations of violations of international law, which could set the stage for potential investigations or actions by bodies like the International Criminal Court.
Looking Ahead: War Without End?
As spring unfolds, there is no sign of de-escalation. Israel has vowed to intensify its operations, while Hamas shows no signs of capitulation.
With civilians continuing to bear the brunt of the war and political pressure increasing from both inside and outside Israel, the world watches a conflict that has devastated Gaza, traumatized Israel, and complicated diplomacy across the region.
In the absence of diplomacy, what remains is a prolonged and painful war — one that is already redefining Middle East geopolitics and challenging the limits of military solutions to political problems.
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