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Israel ready to resume fighting in Gaza at any moment, plans already developed — Netanyahu

The Israeli PM emphasized that the main objective of the operation in Gaza remains unchanged: the return of every single hostage held there and the complete defeat of Hamas

TEL AVIV, February 23. /TASS/. The Israeli army is ready to return to intensive combat in the Gaza Strip at any moment, with operational plans for it already prepared and the end goal being the defeat of the radical Palestinian movement Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

"We are ready to return at any moment to intensive combat. The operational plans are ready," he said when addressing cadets graduating from an officer course.

The Israeli PM emphasized that the main objective of the operation in Gaza remains unchanged: the return of every single hostage held there and the complete defeat of Hamas. "Victory, victory and only victory," he said, noting that it "can be achieved in negotiations, but can be achieved in another way, too." "From the beginning of the war, I have believed that a combination of military and political pressure would lead to the return of our hostages, and indeed, our heroic servicemen have applied military pressure on Hamas, including recently. This pressure, this buildup of troops, along with firm statements by [US President Donald] Trump, have brought about the release of the hostages in recent weeks. I promise you that we will not give up on the task of bringing everyone, with no exception, home," he added.

Netanyahu also expressed gratitude toward Trump for sending arms to Israel, which, according to him, will help Israel "greatly in achieving total victory," and once again praised the US leader's proposal to relocate all Palestinians from Gaza. "We support President Trump’s groundbreaking plan to enable the freedom to leave for Gazans and the creation of a different Gaza," Netanyahu said.