by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened the Knesset’s winter session Monday with a defiant speech, pledging to continue Israel’s war against Hamas while defending the temporary ceasefire tied to ongoing hostage negotiations.
Netanyahu credited Israel’s military campaign for compelling Hamas to agree to the current truce. “Our forces advanced into the heart of Gaza City, the last stronghold of Hamas,” he said. “If I had listened to those who called to stop the war, Israel would have suffered a crushing defeat, and the entire country would have gone up in nuclear smoke.”
The prime minister confirmed that Hamas violated the ceasefire Sunday by killing Israeli soldiers in Rafah, prompting a forceful response. “The IDF dropped 153 tons of explosives on dozens of targets,” Netanyahu said, warning that “the truce is not a license to threaten Israel.”
He declared that Israel had “restored its deterrence” and vowed that Hamas would be eliminated “militarily and politically” by the end of the ceasefire’s second phase.
Emerging Regional Threats
In a more guarded portion of his address, Netanyahu alluded to rising regional challenges. “Our enemies are trying to rearm and challenge us,” he warned. “In the Middle East, old threats are taking on new forms, and there are also new threats.”
According to political sources cited by Israel Hayom, Netanyahu’s “new threats” reference was directed at Turkey and Qatar — two nations backing Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood while seeking to shape Gaza’s future. Israeli officials reportedly view both governments as destabilizing forces, even as Washington maintains warmer ties with Ankara and Doha.
The issue is believed to have been discussed during Netanyahu’s meetings Monday with senior U.S. figures, including Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
‘Peace Is Made with the Strong’
Despite his hardline rhetoric, Netanyahu concluded with a message of resolve and opportunity. “Peace is made with the strong, not with the weak,” he said. “And today, everyone knows that Israel is stronger than ever.”
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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