19th January 2025 – (Jerusalem) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Saturday evening that Israel is prepared to engage in military action again if necessary, stating that such an approach would be executed “in new ways and with great force.” His comments came in the context of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, set to commence on Sunday at 8.30am local time (0630 GMT).
In a video statement, Netanyahu emphasized that both outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden and incoming President Donald Trump have expressed full support for Israel’s right to resume hostilities if negotiations regarding the second phase of the agreement prove to be “futile.” He revealed that during a conversation with Trump on Wednesday, the former president underscored that the initial phase of the ceasefire is merely temporary.
Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to maintaining a strong military presence along the Philadelphi Corridor, which runs along the Egypt-Gaza border. “Not only will we not reduce the forces there, we will even increase them a little,” he stated, indicating that Israeli forces will be deployed within the Gaza Strip and will secure it from all sides. He made it clear that Israel will not permit the smuggling of weapons or the escape of hostages.
Regarding the 33 Israeli hostages set to be released as part of the first phase of the agreement, Netanyahu indicated that most of them are alive, providing a glimmer of hope amidst the ongoing tensions. The Prime Minister’s remarks reflect Israel’s dual approach of seeking peace while simultaneously preparing for potential escalations should the situation deteriorate.
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