Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on Wednesday to opposition claims about his government's handling of hostages, stating that recent protests in the Gaza Strip showed that his military actions against Hamas are succeeding.
"In recent days we have seen something we have never seen before. Large, open demonstrations in the Gaza Strip against Hamas rule. This proves that our policy is correct," Netanyahu said in the Knesset, referencing the rare public dissent against the militant group. He reiterated Israel's goal of defeating Hamas. "This includes the seizure of territories, along with other measures I will not elaborate here," he warned. Netanyahu also criticized opposition leaders for disrupting the government's wartime efforts, citing violence and incitement during antigovernment protests in Israel.
Earlier, Hamas warned that Israeli bombardment could endanger the hostages' lives, while Gaza's death toll from the past week rose to 830.
