Israel must control Gaza's border with Egypt, says Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel should control the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt and that the conflict in the Palestinian enclave and other regional fronts will likely endure for several months. Netanyahu reaffirmed his pledge to destroy Hamas and repatriate all Israelis detained in Gaza during a press conference on Saturday as Israel began the 13th week of its campaign in Gaza. Demilitarising the area and eliminating Hamas in Gaza are two of Israel’s stated goals in an effort to stop the terrorist group from carrying out another murderous and kidnapping rampage over international borders on October 7. “The war is at its height. We are fighting on all of the fronts. Achieving victory will require time. As the chief of staff has said, the war will continue for many more months,” Netanyahu told the media. In addition to increasing tensions with other Iranian-aligned factions in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, the fight has sparked fears of a regional conflagration. Since October 7, Israel has been bombing and attacking Gaza nonstop. At least 21,672 Palestinians have died, mostly women and children, and thousands more are trapped beneath the debris. Nearly all 2.3 million people living in the besieged zone have also been forced to flee due to the military action. Hamas killed almost 1,140 persons in Israel during the strikes on October 7. (With agency inputs)