Netanyahu: Destroying Hamas Remains ‘Supreme Goal’ of Gaza War

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech Thursday that the supreme aim of the war in Gaza is to destroy Hamas, not to return the hostages.

At war: The small nation of Israel in the Middle East was horrifically attacked by thousands of Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023. Some 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 abducted and held captive in Gaza.

These hostages were severely brutalized and tortured, some even to death, as has been widely exposed.

Supreme goal: In his address at the annual Independence Day Bible Contest in Jerusalem, Netanyahu recounted how Israel had returned 147 of these hostages alive, and 196 total. It is believed there are 59 hostages remaining, up to 24 still alive.

Netanyahu emphasized that the return of the hostages remaining in Gaza is a “very important goal,” but he added that that must not be the overarching motivation for Israel. He said: “The war has a supreme goal, and the supreme goal is victory over our enemies, and this we will achieve.”

• On Monday, the Israeli government announced it would reject a proposed five-year truce with Gaza in return for the hostages, given that it would afford Hamas time to “rearm, recover and to continue its war against Israel.”

Total victory: Netanyahu recognizes that unless Israel achieves total victory over Hamas, such gruesome and painful tragedies will only occur again. He understands that if securing the hostages is prioritized, it will encourage terrorists to take more hostages in the future.

Taking this stance demands tremendous strength and sacrifice. These are the hallmarks of a Churchillian leader, rare in this age of compromise.

This is not the first time Netanyahu has distinguished himself as such a leader.

In 2015, he spoke before the United States Congress, warning of the grave consequences of the nuclear deal President Barack Obama had agreed with Iran. Regarding that speech, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote:

When U.S. President Barack Obama started negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran—the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism—only Mr. Netanyahu came to speak before the U.S. Congress, warning them of the catastrophic consequences of such a nuclear deal! This deal would open the way for the mullahs in Iran to develop nuclear weapons! Mr. Netanyahu warned Congress that this deal put the very survival of Israel and America at stake!

At the time, columnist Charles Krauthammer commented:

Netanyahu offered a different path in his clear, bold and often moving address, Churchillian in its appeal to resist appeasement. This was not Churchill of the 1940s, but Churchill of the 1930s, the wilderness prophet.

Again this week, Netanyahu is proving that he is willing to stand up and fight for Israel, even as its enemies want to see it destroyed.

To understand more about the significance of Netanyahu’s leadership, read Chapter 3 in Mr. Flurry’s book Ezekiel—The End-Time Prophet.