Netanyahu says Iran war aids hostage return, as ‘Hamas relies on Iran’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that the war with Iran helps advance the return of the remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, in a Hebrew-language interview with the Kan public broadcaster.

The “only real thing” preventing an end to the concurrent war in Gaza is the hostages, says the premier, adding that the operation against Iran helps return the captives, as “Hamas relies on Iran.”

On the Iran campaign, Netanyahu says the IDF is “systematically” targeting Iran’s full range of weapons systems, including any non-conventional arms.

He further says that Israel is targeting the Basij paramilitary militia of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, known for suppressing dissent in Iran.

“We are doing everything necessary — and there will still be much more,” says Netanyahu, adding that “We’re also striking the Basij… this kind of internal police force of a million people. We’ve inflicted heavy damage, and we will continue to strike their targets.”

The Basij consists mostly of volunteers and is used for internal security, regime enforcement and suppression of dissent. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei deployed the IRGC and the Basij militia to quell national protests in 1999, 2009 and 2022.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said yesterday that Israeli Air Force fighter jets “destroyed the headquarters of the Iranian regime’s internal security, the main arm of the Iranian dictator’s oppression,” but Iranian media said that ordinary Iranian police, not the Basij, were targeted in the attack.