Jerusalem,: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said the country’s military campaign “is not over,” even as preparations were underway for the release of all remaining Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian detainees under the next phase of the newly implemented Gaza ceasefire with Hamas.
In a televised address, Netanyahu described the planned release of the 20 surviving hostages as a “historic event,” Xinhua news agency reported. However, he cautioned that Israel still faces “very big security challenges,” warning that “some of our enemies are trying to regroup.” He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring Israel’s security.
Earlier, Israel’s military chief Eyal Zamir declared that the country had achieved a “victory over Hamas.” In a broadcast statement, Zamir said the victory resulted from a combination of sustained military pressure and diplomatic efforts.
He noted that Israel remains “in the midst of a multi-front war,” adding that the military “will continue to act to establish a security reality in which the Gaza Strip no longer poses a threat to the State of Israel and its citizens.” According to Zamir, Israel’s operations are “reshaping the Middle East and redefining our security strategy for the years ahead.”
The Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which took effect on Friday, follows more than two years of Israeli bombardments that left the Gaza Strip devastated and facing famine.
