Israel PM Netanyahu Faced Foreign Media And This Question Troubled Him Most | Gaza War

‘What I meant to say was that we were a step away’ This claim by Israeli PM Netanyahu has come to haunt him.

Netanyahu faced media heat over his previous claim on the war on Gaza. The Israeli PM was grilled as he took questions from international media.

He appeared defensive when asked to explain ‘step away from victory’ claim. “What I meant to say was that we were a step away from the critical thing that will pave our way to victory.”

The question was posted after NSA Hanegbi said war will continue into 2025.

Asked about his April 6 claim on ‘Rafah victory’, PM Netanyahu said: "I didn’t think that we could have this victory if we didn’t go into Rafah, and I withstood quite a bit of international pressure and American pressure to go into Rafah and to Philadelphi [Corridor]

“Now, we’re in a position to destroy Hamas militarily. There’s still work to be done to destroy its governance capability. “I don’t want to administer Gaza, but I want to take this away from them.”

“Israel is “well ahead” in its program for victory.”

He said that Israel has been maintaining pressure on Hamas to ensure return of 101 hostages who are still remaining in Gaza.

"You need something to squeeze them, to prevent them, to put pressure on them to release the remaining hostages.”

"So if you want to release the hostages, you've got to control the Philadelphi Corridor.

The PM remained defiant as the US pressured Israel to finalise the Gaza ceasefire deal. Netanyahu blamed Hamas for the Gaza truce failure, adding ‘they rejected everything’.

‘I hope that changes because I want those hostages out. We're trying to find some area to begin the negotiations They (Hamas) refuse to do that... (They said) there's nothing to talk about."

Hours later, Hamas said that there was no need for new truce proposals, and asked Israel to agree to the US plan earlier proposed.