Liberman calls for ground invasion of Gaza

Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman, a former defense minister, calls for a ground invasion of Gaza in order to root out and destroy Hamas in the wake of the terror militia’s devastating assault on Israel.

“Eliminating Hamas is what is required in the situation that has been created; unfortunately that requires entry on the ground to Gaza City,” Liberman says in a statement, singling out Gaza’s biggest city as the center of the terror group’s operations.

“We have to clean out the stables. Just as we recently entered Jenin, so must we also go into Gaza City,” says Liberman.

He also essentially calls for the government to assassinate Hamas leaders abroad, saying it must “pursue” the group’s leadership wherever they might be, and references the decision by former prime minister Golda Meir to kill the perpetrators and organizers of the Munich Olympics massacre.

Liberman also accuses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi of failing to adequately update Israelis on the state of the war.

“I think it’s a mistake that the prime minister, defense minister, and [IDF] chief of staff are not presenting themselves to the media, are not speaking with the media… not to send videos but stand in front of the Israeli people, in front of the cameras, take questions and provide answers. That’s their obligation. They owe this to the Israeli people after three days of battle.”

He reiterated that his party would enter a unity government on condition that Hamas be eliminated and that all arrangements allowing for financial assistance from Qatar and other sources to Gaza be ended.