Netanyahu: Israel's enemies will be defeated 'clearly and decisively'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised the Israeli public on Friday that "our enemies will fail. They will be defeated."

Speaking via video address, he said, "Our forces are operating in all sectors and with full strength. Our victory will be decisive and clear. It will send a message to our enemies, a message that will echo through the generations.

"The goal of our enemies is the destruction of the State of Israel," he continued. "I say to you, and I say to them – our enemies will fail. They will be defeated. We will not relent until we achieve our goals, which include the elimination of Hamas, the return of our hostages, and providing security for our citizens and children."

He also sent a warning to Hezbollah: 

"Regarding the North – I want to repeat to our enemies: do not underestimate us. A mistake on your part will come at a high cost. A cost you cannot even imagine," the prime minister said. 

In the North, the IDF slammed strategic Hezbollah locations on Thursday in response to a barrage of rockets fired by the organization at Israeli towns and cities, causing damage. 

"We are ready to respond to any confrontation – now and in the future," IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stressed in an earlier briefing. 

He added that Iran was sending weapons to proxies in the region to use against Israel and distract the country from its war against Hamas. However, Hagari assured, Israel is staying laser-focused on the goal of destroying Hamas militarily and politically and bringing the hostages home. 

In the West Bank, the IDF operated overnight in Jenin, killing several terrorists and stopping terror activity.

Fallen soldiers

As fighting has continued face-to-face with terrorists on the ground in coordination with aerial firepower of the Israeli Air Force, Hagari confirmed that so far, 338 Israeli soldiers have died in battle since the massacre on October 7 - several more who were named on Friday.

Netanyahu highlighted some of those soldiers during his address and said:

"Citizens of Israel, since the outbreak of the terrible war on that black Saturday, we have lost hundreds of soldiers and fighters, both men and women from the security forces, the police, and the rescue teams. We lost wonderful fighters, outstanding Israelis who fought with their bodies, sometimes with their fingertips, against these monsters."

Hamas hostages: No. drops to 241

Hagari said that the number of Israelis and other civilians held hostage by Hamas decreased from 242 on Thursday to 241 on Friday based on receipt of additional intelligence.

While Hagari didn't specify the source of this intelligence, it likely includes the analysis of pieces of flesh, bones and ashes left behind by Hamas in several kibbutzim following Hamas's brutal acts. Forensic teams at Shura and Abu Kabir facilities have been working diligently to identify these remains, allowing the country to determine the status of individuals who could be kidnapped, missing, or deceased.

At the same time, the IDF is working to unveil to the public the heinous acts by Hamas against its citizens, such as showing that the terrorists are stealing fuel from Al-Shifa Hospital and using it to carry out violent acts against Israel, Hagari said. 

On Friday, the IDF released a recording in which healthcare workers were heard discussing the alleged siphoning of fuel from the hospital by Hamas. In this conversation, the officials estimated that Hamas had acquired between half a million and a million liters of fuel.