Netanyahu: We Will Destroy the Enemy Above and Below Ground

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Saturday, November 6, that Israeli forces have entered the second phase of the war with Hamas in Gaza. The second phase of the war began with ground operations under the cover of airstrikes, as Israeli military commanders indicated they are preparing for a prolonged ground assault to eliminate Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip. In a press conference in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu warned that the war would be long and difficult, reiterating Israel's request for Palestinian civilians to evacuate northern Gaza. He added, 'We are only at the beginning. We will destroy the enemy above and below ground.' He promised to make every effort to rescue over 200 hostages held by Hamas. Netanyahu told reporters, 'This is the second phase of the war, and its objectives are clear: to destroy Hamas's governance and military capabilities and to bring the hostages home.' Following the October 7 attack by the Iran-backed Islamist group Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of 1,400 Israelis on the deadliest day in the 75-year history of the country, Israel has been besieging and bombing Gaza for three weeks. Western countries have supported Israel's right to defend itself, but international concerns about casualties from the bombings and calls for a ceasefire to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza's civilians have increased. According to reports, as many buildings have been reduced to rubble and finding shelter has become difficult, the people of Gaza are facing shortages of food, drinking water, fuel, and medicine. Their dire situation worsened since Friday night when telephone and internet services were cut off, followed by heavy bombardment throughout the night. Hamas militants, the Iran-backed group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, and Israel, targeted all of Israel with missile attacks on October 7, resulting in 1,400 deaths and taking over 200 hostages, including women, children, and the elderly. Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, the United States has repeatedly warned about the intervention of the Iranian regime and its proxy forces in the conflict, in addition to deploying warships to the region. U.S. President Joe Biden, in a letter on October 27 to U.S. congressional leaders, referenced the U.S. attack on facilities linked to Iran-backed militants in eastern Syria, stating that U.S. military forces are 'prepared to take further actions' if necessary regarding attacks on U.S. positions by Iranian proxy groups. Biden wrote, 'The purpose of these attacks was deterrence and was carried out in a way that limited the risk of escalation and prevented civilian casualties.' The U.S. president added, 'I conducted these attacks to protect and defend our forces, disrupt ongoing attacks against the United States and our partners, and deter the Iranian regime and Iran-backed militant groups from conducting or supporting further attacks on U.S. forces and facilities.' The U.S., the European Union, and Japan recognize the Hamas militant group as a terrorist organization. Movement of people from Gaza towards the south; the sixth stage of aid to Gaza arrived with 20 trucks. Israel attacked 150 positions related to Hamas's underground tunnels; a new wave of Hamas rocket attacks. Arash Sigarachi recounts the attack and massacre by Hamas in one of the closest kibbutzim to the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian president stated that the region could become a 'ticking bomb.' An Israeli army spokesman stated that Israeli ground forces are inside Gaza; the safety of journalists is not guaranteed.