Netanyahu: Israel Strikes Hamas and Houthis, Vows to Bring All Hostages Home
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened Sunday’s government meeting by addressing what he called both “great achievements” and “very challenging days” for Israel.
He confirmed that in a joint ISA and IDF operation, the remains of two Israeli hostages, Idan Shtivi and Ilan Weiss, were recovered from Gaza and returned for burial. Both men were hailed as heroes: Shtivi risked his life repeatedly to save others during the Nova festival attack, while Weiss, 56, was murdered while attempting to retrieve weapons with his community’s emergency squad.
“This operation expresses our commitment to bringing back all of our hostages,” Netanyahu said, noting that Israel has thus far returned 207 hostages, including 148 alive. He stressed the government’s decision to both defeat Hamas and secure the release of all captives.
Netanyahu also confirmed that Israel targeted Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida in a recent strike, though the outcome remains unverified. “I hope that he is no longer with us,” he remarked, adding that Hamas has not issued any response.
Turning to the Houthis, Netanyahu said he ordered the IDF last Thursday to strike senior figures in Sanaa, Yemen. The airstrike targeted a gathering of the Houthi leadership where a speech by Abdul Malik al-Houthi was expected. According to Netanyahu, most of the Houthi government and senior military officials were eliminated in the “lethal strike.”
He emphasized that while an international coalition has acted against the Houthis, Israel has carried out unprecedented operations. “This is only the beginning,” he warned, pledging further action against terrorist leadership in Sanaa.
Concluding his remarks, Netanyahu vowed Israel would continue to act “on all fronts” until Hamas is defeated and every hostage is brought home.
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