Netanyahu lays out conditions for ending the war in first Hebrew press conference in almost 6 months

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a press conference Wednesday evening with Hebrew media, his first in almost six months, addressing several topics. 

While Netanyahu has spoken regularly with international media over the course of the war, he has only directly addressed Israeli media infrequently. 

The prime minister began his remarks by offering condolences to the families of fallen soldiers from the Iron Swords War, especially those who have fallen in Operation Gideon’s Chariots over the past couple weeks. 

“Good evening citizens of Israel,” Netanyahu began. “On behalf of all of you, I would like to first convey heartfelt condolences, from your hearts as well, to the dear families of Sgt. Yosef Yehuda Chirak and Staff Sgt. Danilo Mocanu, who fell in the Gaza Strip.” 

“The War of Redemption has claimed a heavy price from us but it also has an incomparably clear and just purpose: To defeat Hamas, which perpetrated the atrocities of October 7, return all of our hostages and make certain that Gaza never again constitutes a threat to Israel,” Netanyahu continued. 

Following this, the prime minister listed several of the achievements during the Iron Swords War, including the deaths of high-level terror leaders. 

“We have eliminated tens of thousands of terrorists,” he noted. “We eliminated the arch-murderers – [Mohammed] Deif, Yahya Sinwar and apparently Muhammad Sinwar as well.” 

Netanyahu said that Israel estimates there are still 20 living hostages in Hamas captivity. 

“There are – for a certainty – 20 living hostages left, and up to 38 deceased. We will return them all,” he promised. 

Netanyahu told the reporters that Israel has “a very organized plan” for the war effort. 

“We have destroyed countless terror infrastructure,” he proclaimed. “Whoever attacked us with such horrifying brutality – today understands the magnitude of the destruction he has brought on himself.” 

Netanyahu also claimed that at the beginning of the war, “a very senior person” said that Israel would probably not rescue any of the hostages. 

“Thanks to the heroism of our fighters and thanks to the rational decisions that we made – we have, so far, returned 197 hostages, including 148 alive,” he remarked, while saying that Israel is “ready for a temporary ceasefire” to bring home even more. 

After detailing several of the country’s successful operations throughout the war, despite international and internal pressure, he said the war’s goals have not yet been achieved. 

“In any case, even if we have made great achievements against the Iranian axis, we have yet to complete the work. Operation 'Gideon's Chariots' is designed to do this, to complete the work,” he said. 

However, Netanyahu also affirmed that he is ready to end the war, as long as certain “clear conditions” are met. 

“I am ready to end the war – according to clear conditions that will ensure the security of Israel: All of the hostages will return home. Hamas will lay down its weapons, leave power, its leadership (whoever is left) will be exiled from the Strip, Gaza will be completely demilitarized, and we will carry out the Trump plan, which is so correct and so revolutionary, and it says something simple: The residents of Gaza who wish to leave – will be able to leave,” he affirmed. 

“Whoever calls on us to stop the fighting before these objectives are achieved – is, in effect, calling for Hamas to stay in power,” Netanyahu stated. 

Because Hamas has not demonstrated any willingness to budge from its demand for an immediate ceasefire in the recent hostage-ceasefire talks, Netanyahu said he had “ordered the opening of an additional stage in the War of Redemption.” 

“Our forces are seizing more and more territory in order to sweep it free of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure,” he explained. “At the end of the effort, all areas of the Gaza Strip will be under Israel's security control – and Hamas will be totally defeated.” 

Netanyahu acknowledged the recent resumption of humanitarian aid into the Strip, saying it was necessary to preserve the backing of the United States. 

He said that friends of Israel in the U.S. had told him, “We will give you full backing. We will send you weapons. We will give you full backing in the Security Council. Eliminate these monsters, eliminate them. But there is one thing we cannot accept: We cannot accept a situation in which there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.” 

He also affirmed that “in the coming days” there will be a new system with “food distribution points by American companies, which will be secured by the IDF.” 

He also said that the IDF will create a “sterile zone in the southern Strip to which the civilian population will be evacuated from the combat areas, for the purpose of defending it. In this zone, which will be Hamas-free, the residents of Gaza will receive full humanitarian assistance.”  

Stating that he would not stop the war until the government had achieved the war goals, Netanyahu concluded, “Together we will fight and with G-d's help, together we will win.”