Netanyahu Has Said The Ceasefire Is Temporary And Israel Has The Right To Resume Fighting With US Backing
"Both President Trump and President Biden gave full backing to Israel's right to return to fighting," Netanyahu said.
Ahead of the ceasefire set to begin in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, Jan. 19, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israeli has the right to resume fighting during the second phase of the deal with the US' support.
In his first speech since the ceasefire deal was announced, Netanyahu said that the deal was a result of the Israeli army's bravery, Israel's firm stance against domestic and international pressure, as well as its cooperation with US president Joe Biden's outgoing administration and president-elect Donald Trump's incoming one.
Netanyahu said that Trump called him the moment he was elected and got involved in the hostage negotiations and called him to welcome the agreement the evening it was agreed to on Wednesday Jan. 15.
"[Trump] emphasized, rightly, that the first phase of the agreement is a temporary ceasefire," Netanyahu said. "That's what he said — 'temporary ceasefire.'"
He added that both Trump and Biden had given "full backing" to Israel's right to return to fighting if Israel determines that the negotations on the second phase are futile.
In his 10-minute video, Netanyahu also spoke about how he had insisted on several conditions prior to accepting the deal during the negotiations.
These included "complete freedom of action" for Israel to return to fighting if necessary and Israel maintaining full control over the Philadelphi Corridor between Egypt and Gaza, as well as the buffer zone that along the Gaza border.
He said that the Israeli military will retain control of the areas and increase its presence.
Netanyahu said that the agreement had only been agreed on because Israel had "changed the face of the Middle East" by killing senior leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, destroy's most of the Syrian army's weapons, struck the Houthis in Yemen and acted against Iran.
He said as a result, Hamas was beaten and isolated and forced to accept conditions it had previously rejected.
"The whole world, friends and enemies alike, marvel at [Israel's] historic achievements," Netanyahu added.
He concluded by saying that the the campaign is not over yet and that a long and challenging journey still lay ahead until Israel is able to achieve its war goals.
The ceasefire went into force at 11:15 am local time in Gaza on Sunday Jan. 19 after delays over Hamas releasing the names of the three women Israeli hostages it is releasing on the first day.
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