Netanyahu: Our allies have poor memory of the October 7 attack

2024-03-17 13:53:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Netanyahu: Our allies have poor memory of the October 7 attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel's allies have a poor memory of the October 7 attack by Hamas - the group designated as a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union.

He vowed that the Israeli forces will continue the military offensive in the Gaza Strip, despite the great international pressure.

"I say to our friends in the international community: Is your memory that weak? You forgot so quickly October 7, the worst massacre against the Jews since the Holocaust," Netanyahu said.

"Are you willing to so quickly deny Israel the right to defend itself against monsters like Hamas?" he added.

Netanyahu reiterated that Israel will carry out offensives in Rafah as well.

American President Joe Biden has increased his criticism of Netanyahu. He previously said that Netanyahu is "hurting more than helping Israel" with the way he is approaching the war against Hamas.

Biden said he supports Israel's right to retaliate against Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel, but said Netanyahu "needs to pay more attention to the innocent lives that are being lost because of the actions that he's taking." are undertaken".

Egyptian officials said on Saturday that talks to reach a ceasefire agreement in the war between Israel and Hamas are expected to start on Sunday or Monday.

Hamas is demanding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, which has been opposed by the Netanyahu government, which insists it must first fulfill its goal of "rooting out Hamas".

Officials from humanitarian groups have warned that Gaza is heading for absolute starvation.

Israel's deadly war in the Palestinian enclave began after Hamas militants swept into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 250 hostages.

More than 31,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since then, according to Palestinian health authorities, by Israel's air, sea and ground offensive, which has caused widespread destruction in the enclave./ REL