Dear citizens of Israel, this morning, Hamas forces entered Israeli territory on a holiday and Sabbath morning, killing innocent civilians, including children and the elderly. Hamas has initiated a cruel and ruthless war. We will prevail in this war, but the price is heavy to bear. It's an incredibly tough day for all of us. Hamas wants to kill us all—an enemy that murders children and mothers in their homes, in their beds. An enemy that kidnaps the elderly, children, and young girls. They commit heinous acts against our citizens, our children, who simply went out to enjoy the holiday. What happened today in Israel is unprecedented, and I will ensure it does not happen again.
The entire government stands behind this decision. The IDF will use all its strength to eliminate Hamas capabilities. We will strike them until they relent and pay a heavy price for this black day they brought upon the State of Israel and its citizens. As Bialik said, "The blood avenger of a little child has not yet been created by Satan." We will turn all the places where Hamas operates, the strongholds of this evil city, into rubble. I say to the residents of Gaza: leave now, for we will act in every place and with full force.
At this moment, IDF forces are clearing settlements from terrorists. They go from settlement to settlement, house to house, and restore control to our hands. I send hugs and condolences from the bottom of my heart to the grieving families whose loved ones were brutally murdered today. We all pray for the recovery of the wounded and for everyone holding on like the sons of Arova. I say to Hamas: you are responsible for their well-being. Israel will hold accountable anyone who harms it in any way.
I address the residents of the South—We all stand by your side, we are all proud of your courage, of your fight. To the beloved soldiers of the IDF, to the police, to the security personnel—remember that you continue the lineage of Israel's heroes, of Joshua bin Nun, of Judah the Maccabee, of the heroes of '48 and all of Israel's wars. You are fighting now for the sake of our home, for the future of all of us. We are all with you, we all love you, and we all salute you.
To the medical and rescue teams, and to the many volunteers who stood ready in full force in a long line of locations—Israel salutes you. With your spirit, we will overcome our enemies. I spoke a few hours ago with President Biden and with leaders of world countries to ensure Israel's freedom of action in this ongoing battle. I thank President Biden for his clear and strong words. I thank President Macron, Prime Minister Johnson, and many other leaders for their unwavering support for Israel.
Now I address all citizens of Israel: we stand together in this battle. This war will take time. It will be tough. Challenging days are still ahead of us. But I can promise one thing: with the help of God, with the help of our joint forces, with our belief in the eternity of Israel—we will prevail.