Netanyahu: We won’t let the leaders of Hamas escape; ‘this is not over yet’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issues a video statement amid ongoing Hamas rocket fire on Israel and after the latest rounds of IDF strikes in Gaza, which have reportedly included attacks aimed at Hamas leaders. Violence is also spreading to the West Bank, and there have been incidents on both the Jordanian and Lebanese borders today.

“I said we would strike Hamas and other terror groups with significant blows, and we are doing so,” Netanyahu says.

“In the last day we have attacked underground targets. Hamas thought it could hide there, but it cannot.”

“Hamas leaders think they can escape from our grasp. They cannot escape. We can reach them everywhere — all of [Hamas’s] people and we will continue to do so.”

“They attacked us on our holiday [Jerusalem Day], they attacked our capital, they fired missiles at our cities; they are paying and will continue to pay a heavy price for that.”

“It’s not over yet. We will do everything to restore security to our cities and our citizens,” he says.

Netanyahu makes a point to thank US President Joe Biden, France President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and others who have offered their support.

“They stood for our natural and obvious right to defend ourselves, to act in self-defense against these terrorists who both attack civilians and hide behind civilians,” he says.