Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, said in a speech on Monday that his country will not back down from its retributive attack against Hamas. This comes more than three week after Hamas’ invasion of Israel.

Netanyahu said to the foreign press that Israel would not accept a cessation in hostilities following the horrifying attacks of 7 October. “Calls to a ceasefire is a call to Israel to submit to Hamas. To surrender to terror. To surrender to barbarism. This will not happen. The Bible tells us that there are times for peace and for war. “This is a war time.”

In his speech, the Prime Minister justified Israel’s right of self-defense by comparing it to America’s decision to enter World War II following the Pearl Harbor bombing and to launch the War on Terror following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. He noted that virtually no prominent voices called for the U.S. immediately following those attacks to agree to an immediate ceasefire.

He added that “this is a turning-point — for leaders and nations”, promising Israel would win the war it did not start. It is now up to us all to decide whether we want to fight for an future full of promise and hope, or surrender to terror and tyranny.

The world’s declaration comes just days after 120 nations voted in favor of a “sustained humanitarian truce” for Gaza as the death toll in the Palestinian region continues to rise. Israeli forces have recently increased their ground operations to remove Hamas from Gaza and ensure the release of hostages. They are bombarding Gaza with airstrikes.

Israel declared war on Hamas earlier this month after its militants had killed over 1,400 Israelis. They also took 200 hostages back to the complex tunnel network of Hamas.

Hamas released on Monday a video of three Israeli women criticizing their elected leader, for not being able to negotiate their release or prevent the attack that took place on October 7. Netanyahu called the video “cruel propaganda psychological” by Hamas. He said that the video was a “cruel psychological propaganda” filmed by Hamas. “We’re doing everything possible to get all of the missing and kidnapped people home.”

Since the conflict began, the Islamic terrorist group has only released four hostages – two Israelis and American-Israeli citizens.

Israeli security services reported Monday that an IDF soldier was rescued from Gaza in an overnight rescue operation.