Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday that the Israel-Gaza conflict “has not ended,” warning that militants continue to re-arm and threaten Israel’s security.
Addressing the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, Netanyahu emphasized that Hamas “will be disarmed” and that Gaza will undergo complete demilitarization.
“It will either happen the easy way, or it will happen the hard way. But it will happen,” he asserted.
The statement follows the recent return of the body of Hadar Goldin, an Israeli soldier killed in the 2014 Gaza war. Four deceased hostages are reportedly still inside Gaza. Israeli authorities are exchanging Palestinian bodies for the remains of hostages.
As of Saturday, Israel has returned 300 Palestinian bodies, but only 89 have been positively identified, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Meanwhile, the ceasefire in Gaza has largely held, although Israel continues to conduct strikes on what it describes as Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.
The conflict remains tense, with diplomatic efforts and humanitarian concerns ongoing.
Netanyahu’s address underscores Israel’s determination to neutralize militant capabilities in Gaza while signaling that the military campaign may intensify if compliance is not achieved.