Netanyahu vows to fight in Gaza until Hamas's full destruction

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war in Gaza in the face of growing opposition to Israel’s ongoing military campaign.

In a pre-recorded video on April 19 night, Netanyahu said Israel has “no choice” but to keep fighting “for our very own existence until victory,” Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media. 

He urged Israelis to demonstrate "perseverance and resilience" to ensure the defeat of Hamas and the return of the remaining 59 hostages still held in Gaza.

Netanyahu cited Hamas’ rejection of a recent Israeli ceasefire proposal as a key reason for continuing the military operation. The Israeli proposal demanded Gaza’s disarmament and did not commit to a permanent end to the war—conditions Hamas has consistently rejected.

“If we surrender to Hamas’s demands now, all the tremendous achievements gained by our soldiers, our fallen, and our wounded heroes—those achievements will simply be lost,” Netanyahu said.

He also linked the continuation of the war to former U.S. President Donald Trump's vision for Gaza. According to Netanyahu, allowing Hamas to stay in power would prevent the realization of Trump’s plan, which includes relocating Palestinians and transforming Gaza into a luxury tourism destination. Trump has even floated the idea of U.S. ownership of the territory.

Netanyahu's address comes amid mounting public dissent. Thousands of Israeli reservists, veterans, and civilians—including members of elite intelligence and commando units—have publicly called for a ceasefire deal to bring the hostages home, even if it means ending the war.

A Channel 12 News poll conducted in late March found that nearly 70% of Israelis support a deal to secure the hostages' release, even if it requires halting the war. Only 21% were opposed.

A two-month truce that had led to the release of 33 Israeli and 5 Thai hostages collapsed on March 18 after Israel resumed bombing Gaza. Both Israel and the U.S. blamed Hamas for ending the ceasefire.

By Khagan Isayev