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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a visit to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops that half of Hamas\u2019s terrorists had been killed or wounded as of Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cTotal victory is essential because it ensures the security of Israel. Total victory is the only way in which we can ensure additional historic peace agreements, which await. Total victory will strike a mortal blow against the axis of evil: Iran, Hezbollah, the Houthis and \u2013 of course \u2013 Hamas,\u201d a statement released by the Prime Minister\u2019s Office said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore, there is no substitute for total victory. One need only to think of what would happen without total victory: The displaced will not return, the next massacre will only be a matter of time and Iran, Hezbollah and others will simply celebrate here and destroy the Middle East; therefore, there is no substitute for total victory.\u201d<\/p>\n
Netanyahu said that the IDF has not only killed or wounded many members of Hamas, but Israel has destroyed over half of their battalions as well. <\/p>\n
\u201cAfter having met you and your commanders in the field in the Gaza Strip several times, I would like to tell you \u2013 I am impressed by your heroism, intensity and determination, and by our ability to achieve this victory, which is coming. By our calculation, as of today we have already destroyed \u2013 meaning, we have either killed or wounded \u2013 over half of their force. We have destroyed 18 of their 24 battalions. We are engaged in active demilitarization by conducting raids against the remaining terrorists and we are destroying the underground networks. We are on the way to total victory and I want to tell you that we are committed to it and will not give up on it. We will not stop the war without achieving this goal of total victory, which will restore security to both the south and the north,\u201d the statement continued. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n