PM says Gaza offensive will aid hostages’ release, warns Israel keeping ‘eye on Iran’

In a video statement posted on his X account, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauds the IDF’s new, major ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, saying that it aims to simultaneously defeat Hamas and ensure the release of the hostages.

“We’ve launched a massive campaign against Hamas…IDF forces are pushing powerfully into the Gaza Strip with a dual objective: the defeat of Hamas and the release of our hostages — two goals that are intertwined, and we will achieve both,” says the premier.

“I’ve also heard the media still repeating their old line — ‘You can’t win’,” continues Netanyahu, without specifying which “media” he is referring to.

“They need to stop with that. Have we achieved no victory against Hezbollah? No victory over [former Syrian President Bashar] al-Assad? Did we not [achieve battlefield victory] in other places?”

“Of course, we still face major challenges — we have Iran, we still have Hamas,” he says. “We understand this, but we will complete the victory we set as our goal in the Gaza Strip. It will be fully achieved, including the release of all our hostages.

עדכון ממני אליכם >> pic.twitter.com/YMn35SILlc

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) May 18, 2025

Turning to the Houthi rebels in Yemen, Netanyahu boasts that Israel is striking them “with tremendous force.” He acknowledges that it will be an “exchange of blows,” with Israel taking some of the brunt of it, but says that the Yemeni group is “feeling it, and they’ll feel it even more.”

He says that Israel hasn’t forgotten that the group is backed by Iran.

“We know who stands behind them, who supports them, who enables their actions, and who pushes them to act — it’s Iran. And our eyes are open in that direction too,” he says.

Looking closer to home, Netanyahu also commends the security cabinet’s “historic” decision earlier today to construct a high-tech security barrier along the eastern border with Jordan to strengthen Israeli presence in the Jordan Valley.

“Today in the cabinet we made a decision, a historic one,” says the premier about the planned project.

He says the barrier will “prevent lone terrorists or small cells” from entering Israel.

It’s something critical for securing the borders of the country. We’re also adding other measures to prevent mass entry. I won’t go into details, but many, many things [are being done],” he vows.