"This is not an operation, but a war to the end"/ Netanyahu does not back down, threatens Hamas again

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed today that his country will actually see the "war to the end" with Hamas, thus escalating the conflict between them once again.

"This is not even an 'operation' but a war to the end." It is important to me that you know this. This is not service, but from the heart and mind. If we don't finish it, they will come back," Netanyahu told soldiers of Israel's Caracal Battalion during a visit.

The Israeli prime minister on Sunday refused to answer whether he would take responsibility for the failure to prevent the October 7 attack on Israel, saying there would be time for such "difficult" questions after the war is over.

In an interview with CNN's Dana Bash, Netanyahu acknowledged that this is "a question that needs to be asked," but that for now the country needs to unite around the goal of defeating Hamas — the militant group that controls Gaza and launched the attack on Israel.

"We will answer all these questions," said the prime minister, adding that, "For now, I think what we need to do is unite the country for one purpose; to achieve victory".