6/15/2024–|Last updated: 6/15/202410:17 PM (Mecca time)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel paid a heartbreaking price in what he described as its “just war to defend the homeland,” as he said, pledging to continue the war until its goals are achieved.
Netanyahu’s statements came after the Israeli army announced, in a brief statement, the killing of 8 soldiers in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, one of whom was Captain Waseem Mahmoud, deputy company commander in the 601st Engineering Battalion, while the names of the other dead and their military ranks were not yet permitted to be published.
Netanyahu said that Israel is fighting to preserve its existence and future and is fighting to recover the kidnapped people. He also indicated that what he described as the “savage enemy” has no intention of stopping, but rather “wants to continue trying to annihilate us, so there is no alternative to victory.”
He stressed that Israel is now at the height of a difficult war on several fronts, including international forums, and it faces many challenges ahead.
He added, despite the destabilizing price, we will adhere to the war goals of eliminating Hamas and returning the “kidnapped” and that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.
This Saturday evening, the Al-Qassam Brigades announced the detonation of a minefield by an Israeli military force southwest of Gaza City in the central Gaza Strip, resulting in one dead and one wounded, after the occupation army acknowledged the killing of 8 soldiers this morning in the Rafah battles in the southern Gaza Strip.
Al-Qassam explained that it was able to trap an Israeli armored force in a minefield prepared in advance at the Nabulsi Junction, southwest of Gaza City, confirming that the place was blown up immediately after the arrival of the occupation army soldiers.
It added that its fighters spotted the helicopter landing to evacuate the dead Israeli army.
For his part, Tel Aviv Tribune’s correspondent said that Israeli evacuation helicopters were leaving southwest of Gaza City after arriving simultaneously with shelling from the sea.
A difficult and painful day
For his part, Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir considered that today was a difficult and painful day in Israel, “after we heard the tragic and sad news of the killing of 8 of our fighters in Rafah.”
He stressed that Israel must continue fighting until the elimination of Hamas and the return of all the kidnapped people, as he put it.
In turn, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that the Israelis are suffering from “terrible pain after the fall of our heroic sons who fell so that our sons may live in safety.”
Smotrich added, “The high price of the war obligates us to complete it until the enemy is completely eliminated.”
Hagari: It is not possible to recover the kidnapped people
As for the Israeli army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, he confirmed that a deputy company commander and 7 fighters from the engineering unit were killed in a large explosion, indicating that after informing the families of the victims of the explosion, their names will be published.
Hagari said that today’s incident in Gaza did not target a troop carrier, but rather a “Tiger” armored vehicle, and it reminds “of the great price we pay in this war,” he said.
He added that the Israeli forces are “working to eliminate the brigades in Rafah to destroy Hamas’ capabilities,” and that they will continue to work by all means to return the kidnapped people in Gaza, as he put it.
Later, Israeli Channel 12 quoted Hagari as saying that “Israel will not be able to recover all the kidnapped people in Gaza through military operations.”
Regarding Hezbollah’s escalating attacks on northern Israel, Hagari said that their central goal in the northern war is the return of residents to their areas, adding, “We deal with Hezbollah’s threats and shoot down its missiles and marches in the north, andWe are doing everything necessary to restore the situation in the north to what it was before October 7.
He acknowledged that the people of the North are paying a heavy priceCounting their evacuation from their homes, indicating that Firefighting forces, with the participation of the army, dealt with fires caused by Hezbollah missiles in the north.
