Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Monday that he continues to «combat terrorism» on several fronts after ordering a wave of attacks against Gaza and southern Lebanon on Sunday, saying he does not need «approval» from abroad to attack Hamas and Hezbollah.
«Everything they say about us needing to get approval for this (bombings) from one side or the other is simply a complete lie. We act with complete independence,» Netanyahu stated.
«We frustrated them with great force and they paid a very high price,» Netanyahu said on Monday.
Since Israel began its military operation (qualified as genocide by international law experts and a UN commission) following Hamas attacks, more than 69,700 Gazans have died — including over 20,000 children — and 170,863 have been injured, according to Health authorities.
Israel attacked Gaza on a large scale on Saturday, despite the ceasefire, killing 24 people and injuring more than 80, including children, according to the enclave's Health Ministry.
Since the ceasefire began on October 10, at least 318 Palestinians have died in Gaza from Israeli fire — the majority of them children, women, and the elderly — and nearly 800 have been injured, according to the same source.
Additionally, the Israeli Army reported yesterday that its troops killed eleven alleged militants who had escaped from the tunnels of Rafah (southern Gaza) where they had been trapped, after a pursuit in which they also detained another six alleged members.
Netanyahu maintains today that he will continue to do «everything necessary» in response to what he considers «ceasefire violations» by Hamas, such as crossing the yellow line, which leaves more than half of the Strip under Israeli control.
«There have been several attempts to penetrate our territory beyond the yellow line and try to attack our soldiers. The Israel Defense Forces take immediate measures to thwart attacks,» Netanyahu affirmed during his cabinet meeting on Sunday, which appears to be another allusion to the U.S. government.
The Israeli Prime Minister added that the military responses from his executive are calibrated by the Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, and subsequently, he submits them for a joint decision.
«We decide independently of any factor, and that is how it should be.»
