Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the army will continue its operations against all sites of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Gaza Strip, including Rafah, which he described as the movement’s last stronghold.

Netanyahu added that the efforts of the army forces will continue until victory is achieved, and continued: “We are fighting this war in order to ensure our survival.”

He pointed out that there is increasing international pressure on his government and the Israeli army, and that this "is pushing them to unify ranks."

For his part, Defense Minister of the Israeli government, Yoav Galant, said that the forces "achieve the goals of the war by eliminating Hamas as a military entity and one with authority."

Gallant continued: "It is our duty to defeat Hamas in Gaza and recover the detainees. We are developing the army during this war, and we are focusing on the efficiency of its members."

For his part, Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy said that there are great challenges in the war on the Gaza Strip.

Halevy added that the fighting spirit of army soldiers is strong in Gaza, noting that "there is no substitute for joint action between the forces and responding forcefully to every strike with the same."