Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that his country was paying “a very heavy price for the war”, after the death of 14 soldiers since Friday in the fighting against the Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“We are paying a very heavy price for the war, but we have no choice but to continue fighting,” Mr. Netanyahu declared at the opening of a meeting of his government after paying tribute to the military killed, adding that “the war will be long”.
The death of 14 soldiers in the Gaza Strip is one of the heaviest tolls recorded by the Israeli army in such a short period since the start of its ground offensive on October 27.
According to figures published by the army, 153 soldiers have been killed in the Palestinian territory since the start of the war, triggered on October 7 by an unprecedented deadly attack by Hamas on Israeli soil.
Another Israeli soldier was killed Friday in the north of the country by fire from the Lebanese Hezbollah movement coming from Lebanon, bringing to eight the number of Israeli soldiers killed in this sector since the start of the war between Israel and ally Hamas. of Hezbollah on October 7.
“Let this be clear: the war will be long. We will fight to the end – until the hostages are freed, until Hamas is eliminated, and until we restore security both in the north than in the south,” Mr. Netanyahu added.
Some 250 people were also taken hostage during the Hamas attack in Israel, and taken to the Gaza Strip. Of these hostages, 129, some of whom may be dead, are still in Gaza, according to the army.