Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem<\/p><\/div>\n

Monday, 31 March 2025 | Israel\u2019s Security Cabinet has voted to increase the military pressure on Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast night, the Security Cabinet convened and decided to increase the pressure, which was already increased, to further pound Hamas and create the optimal conditions for freeing our hostages,\u201d the premier said in public remarks ahead of the regular Sunday meeting of the full Cabinet in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe military pressure is working,\u201d Netanyahu declared, according to a readout from his office. \u201cIt\u2019s working because it is simultaneous: On the one hand, it is pounding Hamas\u2019s military and governing capabilities, and on the other, [it is] creating the conditions for releasing our hostages.\u201d<\/p>\n

Netanyahu denounced \u201cthree false claims\u201d that he said were constantly being made of his government \u201cin a one continuous lie.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne: that we are not holding negotiations. This is incorrect. We are holding them under fire; therefore, they are also effective,\u201d said Netanyahu, adding, \u201cSuddenly, we see that there are cracks.\u201d<\/p>\n

The second lie being peddled was that Jerusalem was unwilling to discuss the final stage of the ceasefire deal with Hamas, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are willing,\u201d said the premier. \u201cHamas will lay down its weapons. Its leaders will be allowed to leave. We will see to the general security in the Gaza Strip and will allow the realization of the Trump plan for voluntary migration. \u2026 We are not hiding this and are ready to discuss it any time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The third claim Netanyahu denounced as a lie was that his government does not care about the fate of the 59 hostages who remain in Hamas captivity in Gaza.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe speak in depth and feel their pain, which is immense. This claim\u2014 that we do not care\u2014echoes Hamas propaganda. This is what Hamas puts in its videos with the goal of creating internal discord,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Netanyahu added, \u201cWe are committed to returning the hostages, and we are working to return them. As of today, the combination of military and diplomatic pressure is the only thing that has returned the hostages.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Operation Strength and Sword\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff sought to extend the ceasefire in Gaza through the Ramadan [one of the Five Pillars of Islam when stringent disciplines are observed] and Passover holidays, during which time Hamas would release 11 living hostages and half of the corpses of captives it holds. Israel endorsed Witkoff\u2019s proposed outline, but Hamas did not.<\/p>\n

In response, the Israel Defense Forces [IDF] resumed military activity against Hamas on the morning of March 18. The renewed IDF campaign in the Gaza Strip has officially been named \u201cOperation Strength and Sword.\u201d<\/p>\n

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar said on March 26 that while Jerusalem was still seeking a renewed deal, it won\u2019t \u201cwait forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIsrael will no longer tolerate the ongoing threat to its security and civilians from Gaza,\u201d the top diplomat stated.<\/p>\n

In addition to renewing military operations in Gaza, which he described as \u201climited for now,\u201d Israel is still conducting talks \u201caimed at reaching an agreement to extend the ceasefire and release the hostages,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu also addressed other fronts in the ongoing seven-front war, including threats from Lebanon and Yemen.<\/p>\n

Regarding Yemen\u2019s Iran-backed Houthi terrorist group, which launched another missile attack at Israel on Sunday morning, Netanyahu praised the \u201cthe actions of our ally\u201d the United States in the southern Arabian country, adding that the American military was dealing with the Houthi threat \u201cvery forcefully.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, we are acting to defend ourselves, as has happened recently. But the fact that the US has gone in there vigorously is a major change,\u201d the prime minister said, adding, \u201cWe always appreciate alliances. We have an alliance with the greatest superpower in the world, which is lining up behind us there, and in other arenas, without reservation, and with the full appreciation of the citizens and the government of Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Lebanon, the IDF continues its \u201cvery aggressive enforcement, without compromise\u201d against violations of the truce with Beirut by Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorists, Netanyahu said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lebanese state is responsible for what emanates from its territory, and it needs to see to it that nothing does, that attacks against the State of Israel do not emanate from its territory. We respect the Lebanese state and its military; therefore, we demand from them the things that you demand from someone you respect,\u201d concluded the prime minister.<\/p>\n

The ongoing wars on the Jewish state\u2019s borders were prompted by the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, massacre of some 1,200 people, mainly Jewish civilians, and kidnapping of 251 others. In the days following the largest one-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, other Iranian proxy organizations joined in with attacks in support of Hamas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Monday, 31 March 2025 | Israel\u2019s Security Cabinet has voted to increase the military pressure on Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday. \u201cLast night, the Security Cabinet convened and decided to increase the pressure, which was already increased, to further pound Hamas and create the optimal conditions for<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11564,"featured_media":238340,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-238357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n