Conquer or deter: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on dealing with Hamas

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Wednesday, said that Israel’s aerial bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip was aimed at deterring Hamas. However, he did not strike out conquering the enclave’s Islamic rulers, news agency AFP reported.

“There are only two ways that you can deal with them (Hamas): You can either conquer them, and that’s always an open possibility, or you can deter them, and we are engaged right now in forceful deterrence, but I have to say we don’t rule out anything,” AFP quoted Netanyahu as saying.

Also Read | ‘No one left but you’: Watch bereaved Gaza father clutching wounded baby

Earlier, an Israeli military source said Israel is gauging whether conditions are right to stop bombing Palestinian militants in Gaza. And the same time, they are preparing for more days of strikes if necessary. 

“We are looking at when is the right moment for a ceasefire,” AFP quoted the source as saying.

Deafening airstrikes and rocket fire once more shook Gaza early Wednesday in the conflict that has claimed the lives of 219 Palestinians and 12 people in Israel, according to authorities on each side.

Also Read | No respite from Israel strikes, as diplomatic efforts intensify

But Israel was now evaluating whether its objective of degrading the capabilities of Gaza’s Hamas rulers had been achieved, the military source said, and “whether Hamas understands the message” that its rocket barrages towards Israel cannot recur.

Since May 10, Hamas has launched nearly 3,700 rockets at Israel.

Palestinian rocket fire has killed 12 people in Israel, including one Indian and two Thai nationals, and injured 333, Israeli authorities said.