PM thanks Trump for ‘massive diplomatic pressure’ on Hamas, threatens return to war if demands not achieved ‘the easy way’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues blasting analysts and journalists who argued, as he puts it, “that there is no way to bring back the rest of the hostages without giving in to Hamas’s main demand — that the IDF will leave the Strip entirely, including from the buffer zone, including from the Philadelphi corridor, including from the dominant ground, with all its implications.”

He says that he knew that if the IDF goes into Hamas’s last major stronghold, Gaza City, “Hamas will want to save its rule.”

Netanyahu adds that he knew that if massive diplomatic pressure is added “from our big friend President Trump, this powerful combination will cause Hamas to give back all of our hostages, while the IDF remains deep inside the Strip and holds all the key positions.”

He promises that in the subsequent stages, “Hamas will be disarmed, and Gaza will be demilitarized.”

Netanyahu threatens Hamas with an implied return to war: “If this is achieved the easy way, great. And if not, it will be achieved the hard way.”