PM Netanyahu proclaims 'Do or Die' in Israel-Gaza conflict

PM Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the Israeli military had begun a second phase of its war against Hamas, sending ground forces into Gaza and increasing air, sea, and ground attacks, on Saturday night. He also issued a warning that the assault would get intense before an expanded ground invasion into the region.

“There are moments in which a nation faces two possibilities: to do or die. We now face that test and I have no doubt how it will end: We will be the victors. We will do and we will be the victors," Netanyahu said as quoted by The Associated Press.

Speaking at a press conference, Netanyahu stressed that Israel is committed to rescuing all of the hostages and insisted that the growing ground operation will support the country in this mission.

PM Netanyahu, who referred to the terror assault on October 7 as a "debacle," stated that it would need to be a complete inquiry and that everyone involved, including the Prime Minister, would have to provide answers, according to the AP.

"I couldn’t reveal everything that is being done due to the sensitivity and secrecy of the efforts. This is the second stage of the war, whose objectives are clear: to destroy the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and bring the hostages home," he said.

“Our heroic soldiers have one supreme goal: to destroy the murderous enemy and ensure our existence in our land. We have always said, ‘Never again' ‘Never again’ is now," he added.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 377 Palestinian deaths have been confirmed since late Friday, bringing the total number of Palestinian deaths in Gaza to slightly over 7,700 since the start of the conflict. According to the ministry, women and children make up the majority of those killed.

The Israeli military did not go so far as to declare an outright invasion, but it did state that it was progressively increasing the scope of its ground operations within Gaza. According to the main military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, “We are proceeding with the stages of the war according to an organized plan."

_{(Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images)}