From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Netanyahu claims public backs ongoing war until all his goals achieved, polls showing otherwise are skewed
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a combative address during a Knesset debate initiated by 40 opposition lawmakers, rejecting criticism of his government’s wartime performance and touting what he calls unprecedented achievements.
Families of hostages are in the viewers’ gallery as he speaks, marking 600 days that their loved ones have been in Hamas captivity.
“We changed the face of the Middle East, established Israel’s status as a regional power — the opposite of a failure. Truly zero achievements,” he says sarcastically, in response to opposition claims of government failure.
Netanyahu states that 20 hostages are believed to be alive in Gaza, while 38 are confirmed dead, stressing, “Every hostage is a world in and of themselves.”
He reaffirms his commitment to continue the war until total victory is achieved, with all hostages returned, Hamas destroyed, its leaders exiled and the Strip demilitarized: “We will reach a complete victory.”
He states that Hamas leader in Gaza, Mohammad Sinwar, has been killed, though the IDF has not confirmed this claim.
Blasting his critics, Netanyahu says, “The reason we have reached these victories is because we didn’t listen to you [the opposition].”
Relating to The Democrats party leader Yair Golan’s allegation that Israel is “killing babies in Gaza as a hobby” — an assertion Golan subsequently walked back — Netanyahu asks, “Do you have no shame that your opposition leader speaks this way about our soldiers?” (The actual opposition leader is Yair Lapid.)
He also pushes back against allegations of political failure. “Most of the nation stands with us [the coalition]” in supporting the continuation of the war until absolute victory, he says, claiming that polls consistently showing otherwise are skewed.
He also defends his leadership under pressure: “I don’t know any other prime minister who has operated under these conditions.”
Netanyahu concludes by reiterating his demand for a revised IDF draft law: “We ask for a true recruitment law, a truly fair one.”
The Times of Israel Community.