Netanyahu calls fight with Hamas 'do or die war', vows to destroy terrorist group

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, October 24, said that Israel’s fight against Hamas 'could be a long war’ and that the terrorist group ”must be destroyed” for its atrocities and destabilisation in the region. “It’s a do or die war” for Israel, Netanyahu said.

Hamas is responsible for civilian casualties, but we will do every effort to avoid them and to fight this war as speedily and as rapidly as we can. But it could be a long war.

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM)

Israel formally declared war on Hamas on October 8, after its terrorist launched a brutal terror attack on its territory that killed more than 1,400 people in the initial rampage after breaching the southern border fence.

Prime Minister Netanyahu to French President Macron: "Hamas barbarism not only threatens the Jews, it threatens the Middle East, it threatens the region, it threatens Europe, it threatens the world. Hamas is the test case of civilization against barbarism"https://t.co/1xQA4jbaWO pic.twitter.com/ioYtWV8KoZ

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM)

Speaking at a news conference in Jerusalem alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Netanyahu vowed to crush Hamas. Israel will inflict the defeat Hamas or “we will all lose,” Netanyahu said. "I hope they heed our warning. They will suffer horrible consequences,” he added during the press conference.

PM Netanyahu added: 
"The test for the West and for civilization is Hamas. If Hamas emerges victorious, we will all lose. Europe will be in danger. Everyone will be in danger. Civilization will be in danger. If Hamas loses and is defeated, then the forces of civilization win." pic.twitter.com/snO9qorzsm

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM)

Netanyahu, in a stern warning to Hamas, had previously asserted that "though Israel did not start this war" but “will finish it”. Israel’s Prime Minister mobilised 3,00,000 troops, the largest since 1973 Yom Kippur War, to retaliate and eliminate the Hamas. "Israel is at war,” Netanyahu announced.

Hezbollah would ‘regret entering conflict’: Netanyahu

Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu warned that Hamas may also present grave threat to Europe. He echoed Macron's warning to Iran-baked Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, to not join the war. Hezbollah would "regret" entering the conflict, said Netanyahu. "I hope they heed our warning. They will suffer horrible consequences," he added.

In an exclusive interview with Republic TV on Tuesday, Eylon Levy, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesperson said that Israel was focused on crushing Hamas. "This time we're going to get Hamas," Levy told Republic TV. "Israel needs to win this war. We are also getting support internationally," he added.

"Israel is going to destroy Hamas. We don't have a choice as they have tortured and killed our people," Eylon Levy, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesperson said in an exclusive interview with Republic TV.