‘This is a time for war’ — Netanyahu says Israel will not agree to ceasefire in Gaza

Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, says his country would not agree to a ceasefire, describing it as “surrender” to Hamas.

Netanyahu, who spoke in a news conference on Monday evening , likened his assertion to the United States’ position after Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the September 11 attacks in 2001.

“I want to make clear Israel’s position regarding the ceasefire. Just as the United States would not agree to a ceasefire after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, or after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Israel will not agree to a cessation of hostilities with Hamas after the horrific attacks of October 7,” Netanyahu said.

“Calls for a ceasefire or calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorists, surrender to barbarism, that will not happen.

“The Bible says that there is a time for peace and a time for war. This is a time for war.”

The Israeli prime minister’s warning comes as the Jewish nation’s troops push deeper into Gaza.

“Israel did not start this war. Israel did not want this war. But Israel will win this war,” Netanyahu said tersely.

Last week, Israel began launching fresh rounds of intense retaliatory airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, a town controlled by Hamas, the Palestinian militant group.

Israel’s assaults came after Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack on the Middle-Eastern country on October 7.

Israel claimed more than 1,400 of its people have been killed by the conflict while the Hamas-led health ministry says at least 8,300 Palestinians have died in Gaza.

Netanyahu said Israel has been “going out of our way” not to kill civilians in its attacks on Gaza, adding that “even the most just wars have unintended civilian casualties”.

The prime minister also said “Hamas is doing everything to keep Palestinian civilians in harm’s way,” adding that the militant group has been using people in Gaza as human shields.

“Israel did not start this war. Israel did not want this war. But Israel will win this war,” he said.

Netanyahu asked foreign leaders to join in the fight “against the forces of barbarism until victory” because “Israel’s fight is your fight. Because if Hamas and Iran’s axis of evil win, you will be their next target”.

“That’s why Israel’s victory will be your victory,” he added.

World leaders and global bodies have expressed concerns about the raging conflict which has claimed thousands of civilian lives, and have continued to call for ceasefire to allow humanitarian assistance in Gaza.