Israeli President sees no alternative to war

The Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, has said that his country is not indifferent to the suffering of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, but there is no alternative to the forceful scenario of eliminating the radical Palestinian movement Hamas.

"We have to understand: if we have the right to self-defense, it's an inalienable right to go [into the Gaza Strip], catch the terrorists, clear the houses and bring back the hostages. That's what we're trying to do. I'm not shying away from the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza. And you know what? We're worried. It pains us that our neighbors are suffering so much, but how else can we defend ourselves when our enemy has chosen to entrench itself in an infrastructure of terror of incredible size and scope? It's a very difficult battle," Herzog said as he addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, TASS reports.

According to the president, the Israeli military face armed squads of Palestinian radicals everywhere in civilian developments, "in stores, in living rooms, in bedrooms, in schools." "Let's agree: if the world wants to maintain the post-World War II world order in a dignified way, it must fight terror and support the fight against terror", Herzog pointed out.