Netanyahu advises Israelis to get ready for a “long and difficult” conflict

The PM referred to Israel’s conflict with Hamas as its “second war of independence.”

In a televised speech on Saturday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the Israeli military had begun the “second stage” of its campaign against Hamas militants in Gaza, cautioning the populace to brace themselves for an arduous battle ahead.

“We carried out enormous airstrikes in the early stages of the battle, dealing a serious blow to the enemy. In his speech to the Israelis, the PM stated, “We eliminated many terrorists.”

Over 8,000 people have died in Gaza as a result of Israeli airstrikes over the past three weeks, “half of whom are children,” according to the health ministry in the Palestinian enclave ruled by Hamas, which spoke to AFP early on Sunday. It’s still unknown how many of the dead were real fighters.

But this is just the start of the journey. Noting that “this is our second War of Independence,” Netanyahu cautioned that “the battle within the Gaza Strip will be difficult and long.” This is our life’s work, and we will succeed if we work together.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has extended its operations over three weeks after Hamas militants unexpectedly attacked Israel, bombarding Israeli cities and villages with rockets and breaking into settlements close to the Gaza border. According to Israeli sources, since the start of the war, almost 1,400 Israelis have died and another 200 have been held hostage.

According to Netanyahu, “last night’s incursion into Gaza signifies the start of the second phase of the conflict, which aims to destroy Hamas’s military and political capabilities and rescue our citizens who have been abducted.”

Israeli tanks and ground forces started a major push into the Palestinian territory on Friday and Saturday night, while Israeli jets bombarded Gaza with bombs. But it’s unclear if a more extensive invasion will come after the current “expanded” ground operations. There are worries that a full-scale invasion may lead to significant Israeli losses and spark hostilities with other regional actors, such the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.

Additionally, Israel has “moved on to a new phase in the war,” according to Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who added that ground operations in Gaza will continue “until new orders are given.”