By: Fern Sidman

In a firm and defiant address to the Israeli nation on Saturday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unequivocally rejected renewed ceasefire proposals that would leave Hamas intact in Gaza, declaring that Israel’s war against the terrorist organization would continue until every objective is achieved. As reported by the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) on Sunday, the prime minister emphasized that nothing short of total victory—the destruction of Hamas, the return of all Israeli hostages, and the assurance that Gaza can never again threaten Israel—would bring the conflict to a close.

“Our war is not over,” Netanyahu stated in his nationally televised remarks. “We will not end this war before destroying Hamas, returning all our hostages, and ensuring Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.”

Netanyahu opened his address by mourning the loss of Israel Defense Forces Warrant Officer G’haleb Alnasasra, who was killed during operations in northern Gaza. JNS reported that he expressed condolences to the fallen soldier’s family and extended prayers for the recovery of wounded IDF personnel.

“The entire people of Israel salute his heroism,” Netanyahu said, acknowledging the sacrifices being made by Israel’s soldiers and civilians alike. “We are in a war for redemption on seven fronts. It carries a heavy price, but we fight for our very existence—until victory.”

As the JNS report noted, the term “seven fronts” likely alluded not only to the battlefields in Gaza but to the broader spectrum of threats posed by Hezbollah in the north, Iranian proxies in Syria, and Palestinian terrorism in Judea and Samaria, as well as in cyber, diplomatic, and information warfare arenas.

At the core of Netanyahu’s speech was a stark and unwavering rejection of the latest ceasefire proposals put forth in negotiations, which reportedly included full IDF withdrawal from Gaza, a permanent ceasefire, and internationally funded reconstruction efforts—demands that Netanyahu warned would allow Hamas to rebuild, rearm, and resume its aggression.

“If we surrender to Hamas’s diktat, we would send a message to all our enemies that kidnapping Israelis leads to victory,” he warned, as per the JNS report. “Such a surrender would be a strategic defeat for Israel and a huge win for Iran.”

As the JNS report emphasized, Netanyahu portrayed Hamas’s demands as part of a broader Iranian-led axis of terror that includes Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and Shiite militias across the region—all of whom would interpret any Israeli withdrawal as a signal of weakness.

Netanyahu revealed that Hamas had recently rejected a proposal that could have freed half of the remaining living Israeli hostages. Instead, the terror group demanded that any hostage release be conditioned on the preservation of its political and military control over Gaza.

“We will not give up on even one hostage, living or deceased,” Netanyahu declared, according to the JNS report. “We will increase the pressure on Hamas until we bring them all home.”

As of Saturday night, JNS reported that 196 hostages had been returned to Israel. Of those, 147 were recovered alive, 35 are confirmed dead, and 24 are believed to still be alive in Hamas captivity. Netanyahu’s remarks made clear that Israel views the return of every hostage as non-negotiable and as part of its moral imperative and national duty.

In his remarks, Netanyahu directly addressed domestic and international criticism regarding the pace and scope of the military campaign. He condemned those advocating for indirect negotiations or temporary truces with Hamas, accusing them of echoing Hamas propaganda and thereby prolonging the captivity of Israeli hostages.

“They are echoing Hamas propaganda and prolonging the captivity of our hostages,” he said, with JNS underscoring the prime minister’s belief that calls for restraint are being manipulated by enemy forces intent on dividing Israeli public opinion.

Netanyahu also reiterated his long-standing commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, tying the current conflict in Gaza to the broader regional battle against Iranian influence.

“I will not give in. Not even a millimeter,” he vowed, defending his hawkish approach. “Without our actions, Iran would have had nuclear weapons 10 years ago.”

Netanyahu has long positioned himself as the principal international voice against Iranian nuclearization, often clashing with Western leaders over appeasement and engagement strategies, as was indicated in the JNS report. His remarks on Saturday evening at the conclusion of the Passover holiday reaffirmed that Israel sees the battle against Hamas as inextricably linked to its existential struggle with Iran.

The prime minister concluded his speech by urging national unity ahead of Israel’s Remembrance Day (Yom HaZikaron) and Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut)—two back-to-back national observances that carry profound emotional weight for Israeli society.

“Together we will stand. Together we will fight. And with God’s help, together we will win,” he said, striking a tone of defiance, hope, and perseverance, the JNS report said.

His call was not only to the soldiers on the frontlines but to the entire citizenry of Israel, whom he implored to remain steadfast in the face of adversity and firm in the pursuit of national security and Jewish survival.

Netanyahu’s unwavering stance reflects Israel’s broader strategic doctrine: that true peace and lasting deterrence can only be achieved through unequivocal victory over terrorism, not through temporary arrangements that embolden those who seek its destruction, as was explained in the JNS report.

With nearly all avenues for compromise now foreclosed, and with Hamas rejecting even partial hostage release in favor of political survival, Netanyahu’s message is clear: This is a war of necessity, not choice—a war for the security of Israel’s future and the sanctity of its people.

In his final words, Netanyahu left no room for ambiguity. The war will continue until Hamas is crushed, the hostages are freed, and Gaza is disarmed—not merely for today’s safety, but for generations to come.