The last word objective of the Israel-Hamas Conflict is to prevail over all of Israel’s enemies, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned in the course of the annual Independence Day Worldwide Bible Quiz on Thursday.
Whereas returning the hostages was a vital objective, “in warfare there may be one final objective, and that’s victory over our enemies,” the prime minister mentioned.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum mentioned in response that “the return of the hostages was not much less necessary – it was the supreme objective that must be guiding the Israeli authorities.”
“The hostages’ households are involved – Netanyahu is aligning himself with [Finance Minister Bezalel] Smotrich, opposite to the overwhelming majority of the Israeli public who, above all else, need to see all of the captives returned.”
Einav Zangauker, the mom of hostage Matan Zangauker, mentioned: “I see that Netanyahu has extra necessary objectives than bringing again my sick son, who has been chained up for a yr and a half, consuming bathroom water within the Nazi tunnels of Gaza.”
“Due to this, it’s clear to me that as a way to deliver again my son, my objective from this second onward is to oust Netanyahu from energy,” she mentioned.
Smotrich’s related feedback in mid-April
In mid-April, Smotrich confronted backlash for making an identical remark to the one which the prime minister made throughout an interview with Military Radio.
“Smotrich, historical past will bear in mind the way you hardened your coronary heart to your brothers and sisters in captivity and selected not to avoid wasting of them from dying and others from disappearance,” the discussion board mentioned, responding to what the minister mentioned in that interview.
In the meantime, on the annual Excellent Troopers Ceremony on the President’s Residence on Thursday, IDF Chief of Workers Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir mentioned that the IDF was getting ready to ship a “decisive blow” in opposition to Hamas. The army would additionally enhance the tempo and depth of the operations in Gaza quickly if crucial, he added.
“Hamas terrorists nonetheless maintain fifty-nine of our brothers and sisters. However they, too, know their security isn’t perpetually,” Zamir mentioned.
“Our sovereignty and independence weren’t given to us as a present. They have been purchased with blood and battle, they usually require us to defend this in any respect prices,” the IDF’s chief mentioned.
The aim of the ceremony was to honor excellent troopers within the IDF. At first of Zamir’s speech, he outlined what the notion of “excellent” meant to him.
“Excellence isn’t measured by who’s essentially the most gifted or essentially the most sensible. Moderately, it defines perseverance. It displays the quiet, day by day option to act with accountability, dedication, and integrity – even when nobody is watching,” Zamir mentioned.
He added that this yr, the ceremony has “particular significance.”
“You might be receiving recognition throughout a time of warfare – an extended and complicated warfare, in a number of arenas, in opposition to quite a few threats, which remains to be ongoing,” Zamir continued.
He additionally highlighted the accountability Israeli residents had for each other.
“For the State of Israel, this concept is crucial to its existence and resilience, and nobody is exempt – not people, not teams, and never tribes,” Zamir mentioned.
“All of us enlist, all of us battle collectively, and all of us sacrifice collectively – for the sake of the state and for a greater future. As a result of one shared future positioned us right here, on this land,” he mentioned.
Zamir famous explicit awardees, together with Avigdor, an officer from a haredi household, “who selected to enlist within the IDF regardless of social challenges,” and Dorian, “who made aliyah alone simply two years in the past, and regardless of the language boundaries, excelled in his service within the Intelligence Directorate.”
He additionally spotlighted Oria, an observer from the Re’im base, who survived Hamas’s October 7 assault and continued to serve within the IDF, “demonstrating extraordinary interior power.”
“Lea is a soldier whose grandfather was kidnapped and brought into Gaza and murdered there. From that nice ache, she discovered the power to persevere, rise, and excel,” Zamir continued.
He concluded with Daria, the sister of a civilian hostage, “who enlisted within the IDF and, even in the course of the fierce battle for her sister’s return, managed to face out and develop into a job mannequin for power and dedication,” he mentioned.
The IDF’s chief continued, “We, too, along with you, are including a brand new verse to the lengthy and superb tune of the lifetime of the individuals of Israel. From this place, within the coronary heart of Jerusalem, our everlasting capital, we ship a transparent message: Israeli hope is alive and effectively.”
“Pleased and protected Independence Day,” Zamir mentioned on the finish of his speech.
It is a growing story.
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