Netanyahu: Genocidal Hamas must be ‘eliminated’ like ISIS, and Israel must form emergency unity government

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went on live television Monday evening at around 9:30 p.m. local time to address the nation and the world. 

“We are at the third day of the war for our very existence, one which we’ll win,” Netanyahu said, comparing the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza with ISIS — also known as the Islamic State — both of which have genocidal objectives. 

“Hamas is the same as ISIS, and we’ll combat it in the same way it was combatted by other countries in the world,” Netanyahu vowed.

“We’ve always known what Hamas was, and now the world knows it, too,” he added. “Let me say this clearly: We’ve only begun to act against Hamas.” 

“Hamas wanted this war, and it will get it. When this war ends, all of our enemies will realize it was a mistake to attack Israel.”

Netanyahu went on to say: “I call on the leaders of the opposition to form an emergency unity government without any reservations or conditions.”

He noted that former Prime Minister Golda Meir formed such a broad based emergency government during the Yom Kippur War in October 1973 and it is time to do so again.

“Citizens of Israel,” he continued, “we've eliminated hundreds of terrorists and we will not stop there.”

“Every single point where Hamas is operating from will vanish. It is happening now and it will continue to happen even more.”

Netanyahu thanked U.S. President Joe Biden “for American support in words and in actions” and noted that a carrier strike group led by the USS Gerald Ford “is on its way here” to send a message to Iran and Hezbollah not to open any new fronts and dramatically expand the war.

The prime minister also warned Israelis to be careful not to listen to the lies of the media which are so often anti-Israeli and filled with “fake news.”

“Citizens of Israel, I would like to tell you there is a lot of fake news in a bid to divide us, to dismantle us — like the false, the fake news [that] Egyptian intelligence tipped off Israel before the war, something that never happened.”

“We should not fall into those traps, and we must pack ourselves with the most important things in our war — resilience and strength. It will take time, the citizens of Israel. But I promise you, at the end of this campaign, all our enemies will know very well it was a grave mistake to attack Israel.”

Netanyahu also urged Israelis to understand there is a long fight ahead of us.

“Tough days are still ahead of us,” he explained. “We are still in pain and agony over the blood of our sisters and brothers. But we are committed. We are determined to win this fight.”

He closed by saying “the State of Israel is a miracle of resurrection” and added that the people of Israel shall live forever.