Israel is “on the path to victory” over Hamas, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who lashed out at what he called the world’s “new Nazis.”
“What happened on Oct. 7 will not happen again,” he vowed, according to the Times of Israel. “We are on the path to victory and we will not stop until we achieve victory. We will not compromise and we will not stop.”
Netanyahu slammed what he called The Hague’s “hypocritical attack” as “a moral low in the history of nations” — a reference to South Africa’s genocide allegations against Israel.
“The supporters of the new Nazis dare to accuse us of genocide,” he scoffed at a news conference in Tel Aviv Saturday, adding that Israel is “fighting a unprecedentedly moral and just war against the monsters of Hamas — the new Nazis.”
The families of the estimated 132 hostages still being held by Hamas kicked off a 24-hour rally to mark Sunday’s grim anniversary of 100 days since the Oct. 7 attack.
A relative carries a portrait of Israeli hostage Itay Chen in a simulation tunnel inaugurated during a rally in Tel Aviv. AFP via Getty ImagesDorit Beinisch, a former head of the Israeli Supreme Court, spoke at the rally and denounced South Africa’s efforts to accuse Israel of “genocide” at the International Court of Justice, calling it an “embarrassment.”
“The massacre on October 7 wasn’t a fight for freedom and isn’t according to the laws of war. The nations of the world have to support us because terrorism is a threat to the world,” the former justice, now 81, said.
Organizers claimed 120,000 people gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, the Times of Israel said, with released hostages and their families speaking out.
Protestors in New York City hold photos of the remaining Israeli hostages. Roy Rochlin/Shutterstock“It has been 100 days of cruelty that the world hasn’t seen since Hitler,” said freed hostage Danielle Aloni, whose brother-in-law is among those still being held.
“A hundred days, what to say about this round number,” said released hostage Agam Goldstein-Almog, 18. “A hundred days in darkness, in war, alone. My friends, I miss you. I haven’t met your families, but we’ll meet here, in Israel.”
The mother of a Hamas captive who was killed in the Gaza Strip demanded the Israeli government “wake up.”
The CIA has a new task force dedicated to gathering intelligence on Hamas. AFP via Getty Images“Every day that passes endangers those who are surviving,” Yael Adar said, according to the Times of Israel. “… the only job you have is to get them back. …I won’t forget and I won’t forgive. Government of Israel, the onus is on you for what happened on your watch.”
Earlier in the day, families whose loved ones are still being held hostage walked through a mockup of a Hamas tunnel built in Tel Aviv, meant to show the claustrophobic, dark conditions their relatives are forced to endure in Gaza, the outlet noted.
A picture, illuminated by a lightbulb, is displayed inside a tunnel set up to simulate the living conditions of the hostages. REUTERSThey wrote the names of the estimated 132 people still believed to be held by the terrorists, as well as messages of hope for their return on the tunnel’s walls.
“I am shaking. For nearly 100 days [the hostages] haven’t been able to leave this,” Ela Ben Ami – whose parents were both taken on Oct. 7 — told Channel 12 after she walked through the tunnel for the first time.
Ela’s mother, Raz, was released during the temporary ceasefire in November, but her father, Ohed, remains in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military effort against Hamas remains ongoing — while tensions escalate with Hezbollah on the northern Israel-Lebanon border.
On Saturday, the IDF announced that it hit three terror cells in southern Lebanon on Friday night, the Times of Israel reported.
Relatives of Israeli hostages from the Bibas family stand near the simulation tunnel. AFP via Getty ImagesAll three cells were preparing to execute attacks on northern Israel, the IDF said.
On Saturday, the IDF also announced that a reserve soldier – 24-year-old Master Sgt. Dan Wajdenbaum – was killed in the ground operation against Hamas, the Times of Israel noted.
Wajdenbaum’s death brings Israel’s military death toll for the operation to 187.
The Palestinian death toll since Oct. 7 is estimated to be 23,843, the Hamas-affiliated Gaza health ministry said.
On Friday, the Israel army also killed three Palestinian gunmen who fired on soldiers in the West Bank, officials said.
The gunmen attacked soldiers who were patrolling the Israeli settlement of Adora, Israel’s Army Radio explained.
One Palestinian man survived the confrontation with a gunshot wound to the leg.
Tensions in the occupied West Bank have been running especially high since Hamas launched its attack on Israel, and the Israeli army frequently carries out deadly raids it claims are eliminating insurgency in the area.
With Post wires
