Israel’s leaders, from its President, Isaac Herzog, to its Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, continue to pledge that they will not stop the fight until all of the remaining 136 Israelis held hostage in Gaza are freed. And members of Israel’s government take this a step further and pledge that the war in Gaza will not end until the Hamas terrorist organization is destroyed.
Minister Gallant made that pledge once again while speaking to one of the Israel Defense Forces’s (IDF) most elite special forces units, the “Shayetet 13” marine commando unit.
“Hamas must be completely dismantled.,” he declared. “We will continue fighting until the hostages return and until Hamas’ military and governing capabilities are destroyed.”
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“We will continue fighting until we achieve victory – until we defeat the Hamas terrorist organization – removing all of its significant military and governing capabilities in Gaza,” he added.
Those remarks came when Gallant visited the unit at its base.
Minister Gallant was briefed on the unit’s activities since the start of the war in Gaza, including operations conducted against Hamas targets above and under the ground.
“Regarding the hostages – we have no right to stop fighting as long as there are hostages in Gaza,” he added. “The only way to bring them back is via military pressure, because Hamas only responds to the use of force.”
Gallant also said that Israel is, in northern Gaza, dismantling Hamas’ terror capabilities. This enables an IDF brigade to maneuver from place to place , he explained.
“The end of this war – whenever it may be – will be based on our achievements. This will include destroying Hamas’ ability to operate with military and governing capabilities. We will maintain freedom of operation.”
Meanwhile, while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Israel’s President Herzog spoke about the 136 Israelis still held hostage in Gaza.
“We will continue to demand from the whole world to be relentless in their efforts to secure the immediate release of [one year old baby] Kfir [Bibas], and all 136 hostages from the hands of the Hamas murderers,” he said.
Moran Stella Yanai was one of the people abducted from the Nova Festival Massacre and was released after 54 days in Hamas captivity said that she “prayed that I would die fast and without suffering. I wanted to cry, but it was forbidden so I banged my head against the wall. The terrorists got mad hit me and took my food away.”
The problem for Israel right now, however, is that there is no evidence being offered by the other side that any of the remaining hostages held in Gaza are still alive. Also, all reports indicate that any remaining hostages are being held with Hamas’ senior leadership as a “human shield.”
So, as Israel presses forward with its Gaza offensive, it runs the risk of harming hostages.