Prime Minister Netanyahu visits Israeli troops in Gaza

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited his country’s troops in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, after a four-day lull in fighting there, and vowed that “we will continue until the end – until victory.”

“Nothing will stop us,” he said a video statement in which he wore protective clothing and was surrounded by Israeli soldiers.

It was not immediately clear when exactly Mr Netanyahu made his visit – information about the trip was withheld by the government until he left the Palestinian enclave – or where exactly he was, although he most likely traveled to the northern part of the Gaza Strip. where the Israeli army has established control.

Officials said it was Netanyahu’s first trip to Gaza since the Israeli ground invasion began nearly a month ago. Those traveling with him included his National Security Advisor, Tzachi Hanegbi; his military secretary, Major General Avi Gil; and the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, Major General Amir Baram.

Photos released by the Israeli government show Mr Netanyahu – wearing a T-shirt, jeans and a khaki body armor and helmet – looking at a map, conferring with commanders and standing in a tunnel that his office said had recently been was exposed by the Israeli army. .

The pause, which began Friday, is part of a deal that includes Hamas’ release of at least 50 Israeli hostages in exchange for at least 150 Palestinian prisoners and more aid to Gaza. Israel has offered to extend the pause by one day for every additional 10 hostages released. Hamas has not publicly responded to the proposal.

“We are doing everything we can to bring back our hostages and eventually we will bring them all back,” Netanyahu said. Israeli officials have said that on October 7, about 240 people were taken as hostages to Gaza by Hamas and its allies in an attack that also killed about 1,200 people.

Some analysts have argued that the longer the ceasefire lasts, the harder it may be for Israel to return to fighting. But the prime minister emphasized that eradicating Hamas remains a central objective for Israel.

“We have three goals in this war: eliminate Hamas, return all our hostages and ensure that Gaza does not become a threat to the State of Israel again,” he said.

He added: “We are convinced that we have the strength, the power, the will and the determination to achieve all our goals for the war.”