Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a sharp warning to Hamas today (Wednesday), making it clear that military pressure in Gaza will intensify as long as the terror organization refuses to agree to a hostage deal. “The longer Hamas persists in its refusal to release our hostages, the greater the force we will apply,” Netanyahu declared during a Knesset plenum debate. “And I say to Hamas – this includes the seizure of territory, and it includes other measures that I will not detail here.”
Israel’s policies are yielding results, Netanyahu said, pointing out that “In recent days, we have seen something unprecedented—open protests in Gaza against Hamas rule. This is a sign that the pressure campaign is working.”
“We Are Changing the Face of the Middle East”
Netanyahu went on to say: “At the start of the war, a very senior security official said we should accept that we won’t be able to bring back even a single hostage. I believed otherwise and insisted on a different approach. I was convinced that through a combination of military and diplomatic pressure, we would succeed. And indeed, we have achieved a great deal, but the mission is not yet complete. We are determined to bring back everyone who remains.”
Netanyahu further stated: “We are changing the face of the Middle East. We have dismantled large parts of the Axis of Evil. We are accomplishing things that no government in Israel’s history has ever done. We have eliminated tens of thousands of terrorists and masterminds of mass murder. We have destroyed terror infrastructure. The fighting in Gaza continues.”
Crime in Arab Society: “A Spreading Plague”
Netanyahu spoke at a Knesset “40-signatures” debate initiated by the opposition, addressing the surge of violence and crime in Arab society (such a debate is held at the request of 40 lawmakers, and the prime minister is obligated to attend). Netanyahu argued, “Crime in the Arab sector is not just an issue for the Arab community – it is a problem for all of society.”
The Prime Minister also addressed the approval of the state budget, which passed yesterday: “We passed the state budget with a massive increase for security, reservists, and the rehabilitation of the south and north. Our Haredi brothers also have children who deserve to eat and sit in a classroom. Out of a 650 billion shekel budget, they receive less than one percent, while their proportion of the population is 12%. The budget passed by a wide margin—the right-wing government continues, and it will serve out its full term.”
Regarding crime in Arab society, Netanyahu called the phenomenon “a spreading plague” and “a cancer” but emphasized: “We can overcome it. The government has invested billions in infrastructure, education, and police stations and has established a special committee under my leadership for continuous treatment of the problem.” He added: “Our government has done more for the Arab sector than all previous governments combined since the establishment of the state.”
Reflecting on meetings with bereaved Arab families, he shared, “I heard from a woman whose husband was murdered before her eyes and in front of their children – this deeply moved me.”
Netanyahu continued: “We are a lawful nation of law, but the law is being undermined by criminal organizations. We have recruited thousands of new police officers, passed the anti-protection racket law, and established the National Guard. We will continue to take action—working together with representatives of the Arab public—to put an end to the violence.”
“Hamas Will Lose Territory That Will Be Annexed to Israel”
Last week, Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed a similar message to Hamas. He stated that if the terror organization continues to refuse to release the hostages, Israel will take decisive action. “I have instructed the IDF to take over additional areas, evacuate the population, and expand security zones around Gaza to protect Israeli communities and IDF forces by maintaining a permanent Israeli presence in these areas.”
He added, “The more Hamas continues its defiance, the more territory it will lose—territory that will be annexed to Israel.”
