PM during visit to Gaza: Hamas will suffer ‘more and more blows’

Hamas will suffer “more and more blows” in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier today during a visit to the northern Strip with IDF troops.

“We insist that it release our hostages, and we insist on achieving all our war aims,” Netanyahu told assembled soldiers as drones flew overhead.

Holding a printout of a post by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Netanyahu said that he was again calling for Israel’s destruction.

“He is doing this during negotiations with the Americans,” Netanyahu said.

The first round of nuclear talks between the US and Iran began last weekend in Oman, a process of which Israel is extremely wary.

Standing alongside Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel will never allow Hamas “to threaten our communities and our citizens, and therefore, the operation that is currently taking place is pressuring Hamas to first release the hostages.”

“The more it persists in its refusal,” Katz continued, “the more we will intensify the blows it will suffer until it is defeated and all the hostages are returned.”

The two were joined by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, IDF Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and other senior aides.