Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country would continue to pursue everyone involved in the October 7, 2023 attack and in holding hostages. He also pledged that Hamas would no longer rule the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu made the remarks at a state memorial ceremony for soldiers and security personnel killed during the three years since the Hamas attack, The Times of Israel reported.
Netanyahu stressed that Israel still had unfinished missions that the country intended to complete.
“There will be no Hamas rule in Gaza. Everyone who was involved in the attack against us, everyone who held our hostages, is living on borrowed time. We will reach them, as we reached the others,” Netanyahu added, saying Israel was “settling scores” with Hamas militants every day.
Speaking about Lebanon, Netanyahu said Israel would continue striking Hezbollah while also seeking to create an opportunity for peace with Lebanon. He pledged not to allow Iran to threaten Israel’s existence. According to Netanyahu, the Iranian regime is now “the weakest it has been since its founding.”
The prime minister said Iran’s plan to destroy Israel had three components: the groups it supports around the country, thousands of missiles aimed at Israeli cities, and nuclear weapons. According to him, Israel has weakened those groups, pushed its enemies back from the borders, struck ballistic missile stockpiles in Iran and “hit hard” at its nuclear program.
The deadliest day in Israel’s history: the October 7 attack
On the morning of October 7, 2023, Hamas militants and members of other Palestinian groups breached the border from the Gaza Strip and attacked southern Israel. The attackers entered border towns and kibbutzim, attacked military bases and also targeted the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im.
About 1,200 people were killed in the attack. Another 251 people — civilians and military personnel, men, women, children and elderly people, including both Israeli citizens and foreigners — were taken hostage and brought into the Gaza Strip.
The October 7 attack became the deadliest day in Israel’s history. Some hostages were later released in exchanges under ceasefire agreements, but dozens did not survive captivity.
Following the attack, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip, which developed into a prolonged war with Hamas.
