Tel Aviv, Israel:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel’s war against Hamas would be “long and difficult” after the army expanded ground operations in the besieged Gaza Strip.
“The war in the Gaza Strip will be long and difficult and we are prepared for it,” Netanyahu told a news conference after meeting with families of hostages held in Gaza since the shock of Hamas attacks on southern Israel on October 7.
His comments came after Israeli ground forces entered Gaza on Friday evening under cover of heavy air and artillery fire, opening a new phase in Israel’s campaign.
“This is the second phase of a war whose goals are clear: to destroy Hamas’s military and leadership capabilities, and to bring the hostages home,” Netanyahu said.
“We have unanimously made the decision to expand ground operations.”
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