Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel would “crush and destroy” Hamas in response to its attack. Netanyahu said every Hamas member was a “dead man.”

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel would “crush and destroy” Hamas in response to its attack.

Netanyahu said every Hamas member was a “dead man.”

Netanyahu made the remarks in a late-night televised address as Israeli planes pounded Gaza in response to the unprecedented attack.

  • donuts@kbin.social
    211·
    1 year ago

    Revenge rhetoric. It seems to me that there is zero practical way of crushing Hamas. It’s not like they wear Hamas uniforms or carry Hamas membership cards. In fact, there’s no guarantee that key Hamas leaders are even still in Gaza right now, as they could have easily fled the area. To make matters worse, the members of Hamas who are still in Gaza are likely to be in plain clothes and fighting with guerilla tactics in a familiar and dense urban environment, it’ll be a bloody fight and many Palestinians will wind up getting caught in the crossfire. It’s also very likely that we start seeing broadcast Hamas executions of Israeli hostages, which will only increase hostility.

    The situation in Israel and Palestine is already awful, but I imagine it’s going to rapidly become much worse over coming days. I feel so sorry for the innocent people on both sides of this conflict whose lives are being ruined for literally nothing.

    • HappycamperNZ@lemmy.world
      53·
      1 year ago

      As much as I hate to say it, it has to happen and this will get worse before it gets better. Allowing people to cross boarders and execute civilians, and civilian captives can not be allowed to stand.

      I hope US carriers are there to attempt a rescue, but I’m not holding my breath.

    • Zippy@lemmy.world
      31·
      1 year ago

      Hamas will be hiding behind civilians likes they normally do. Very hard to kill them.

    • Syndic@feddit.de
      2·
      1 year ago

      In fact, there’s no guarantee that key Hamas leaders are even still in Gaza right now, as they could have easily fled the area.

      They never were in the first place. It’s well known that the key leaders are sitting in luxury in Qatar.