Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised victory, saying the country's military has "completely transformed reality" since the Hamas attack on October 7 last year, which led to Israel fighting on two fronts.
Netanyahu told troops that Israel "will win" as it fights militants in both Gaza and Lebanon, and is preparing for possible action against Iran. Israel’s army chief, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, added that they have defeated the military wing of Hamas.
Netanyahu had initially vowed to “crush and destroy” Hamas militants, but Israeli troops have returned to several parts of Gaza where Hamas militants have regrouped.
Recently, Israel shifted its focus north, increasing military action against Hezbollah, a group backed by Iran, which has been launching rockets from Lebanon in support of Hamas.
Netanyahu stated that Israel has significantly changed the situation over the past year. Meanwhile, Hamas described the October 7 attack as “glorious,” claiming that Palestinians are “writing a new history with their resistance.”
The attack killed 1,205 people, mainly civilians, according to Israeli figures, and many others remain hostages. In Tel Aviv, 370 people killed at the Nova rave in the Negev desert were remembered with candles, prayers, and music on Sunday.
Destroyed, displaced
In northern Gaza, the Israeli military said it surrounded the Jabaliya area after seeing signs that Hamas was rebuilding there despite a year of airstrikes and fighting.
Rescuers reported that 17 people, including nine children, were killed on Sunday by Israeli airstrikes in the area.
Israel’s military operations in Gaza have killed at least 41,870 people, mostly civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry, which the UN has described as reliable. Most of Gaza’s population has been displaced, and much of its housing and infrastructure has been destroyed.
Despite rising tensions in Lebanon and the risk of conflict with Iran, Netanyahu told French President Emmanuel Macron that Israel’s actions in Lebanon would help bring "stability, security, and peace" to the region.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on the international community to pressure Israel for a ceasefire. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said the U.S. would keep pushing for a Gaza truce. Meanwhile, Jordan and the UAE urged more international efforts to end both conflicts. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani warned that the fighting could lead to prolonged conflicts in the region.
So far, these appeals and efforts have not secured a truce or a deal to release hostages in Gaza. Critics have accused Netanyahu of blocking such agreements. Israel remains on high alert as the anniversary of the October 7 attack approaches, fearing possible attacks on its territory.
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