TEL AVIV: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while speaking to cadets graduating from the IDF Ground Forces combat officers course, warned that Israel is “ready to return at any moment to intensive combat. The operational plans are ready”, The Times of Israel reported.
During his speech, Netanyahu vowed total victory, stating, “All of our hostages, without exception, will return home,” he says. “Hamas won’t rule Gaza. Gaza will be demilitarized, and its fighting force will be dismantled”, The Times of Israel quoted Netanyahu as saying.
Netanyahu entered the stage amid cheers and boos, and when he held up a photo of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, the Israeli slain hostages, some in the crowd yelled out in protest. Netanyahu said the image “says it all…”. “So that we will always remember, what we are fighting for, and who we are fighting against”.
תודה לכם מסיימות ומסיימי קורס קצינים. אוהב אתכם וגאה במשפחות היקרות שלכם! ♥️ 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/0CpABubwve
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) February 23, 2025
He stressed that the Bibas family was murdered in cold blood in the early days of the war. “They strangled the tender boys with their bare hands,” he says. “We must defeat those monsters, and we will defeat them”. “Victory, victory and only victory”, said Netanyahu. The victory “can be achieved in negotiations”, he said. “It can be achieved in another way”.
As per The Times of Israel, Netanyahu thanked Trump for his commitment to send crucial weapons to Israel. “The new defensive and offensive weapons will help us greatly in achieving total victory.” Trump sees “eye-to-eye” with Israel on Gaza, he added.
“We support President Trump’s groundbreaking plan to enable the freedom to leave for Gazans and the creation of a different Gaza”, says Netanyahu of the US President’.