In his statement, Netanyahu said, "The war will not end until we achieve all its objectives and ensure the safe return of residents to northern Israel. This will happen just as it did before. My friends in the north, I am proud of you, proud of your resilience, and fully committed to your security, the rehabilitation of your communities, and your future."
"Thanks to the bravery of our soldiers, we have achieved tremendous success across seven fronts in this war of resurgence. These achievements underscore Israel's strength in the Middle East and challenge Iran, the head of the octopus. I am determined to do everything necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. This threat remains my top priority, even more so today. Removing this danger is Israel's most critical mission for its present and future."
"In Gaza, we dismantled Hamas brigades, eliminated Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and senior leaders of the organization, and brought back 154 hostages. We remain committed to returning all captives, ending the unbearable suffering of their families, and completing Hamas's destruction."
"In the West Bank, we are eliminating hundreds of terrorists and dismantling terror infrastructure—there is no place we won't reach. In Yemen, we struck with force. In Iraq, we thwarted numerous drone attacks. In Syria, we are systematically disrupting attempts to transfer weapons to Lebanon. Assad must understand—he is playing with fire."
"And now, the seventh front—Lebanon. Hezbollah chose to attack us from there. A year ago, Hezbollah was not the same organization it is today. We set it back decades, eliminated Hassan Nasrallah and top leaders of the group, destroyed most of its capabilities, and eradicated terror and underground infrastructure near our borders. We targeted strategic objectives throughout Lebanon. Beirut is burning. Citizens of Israel, three months ago this might have sounded like science fiction, but it is reality—we made it happen."
"Some claim that entering a ceasefire will prevent us from resuming combat. They said the same about Gaza, but we resumed fighting there with overwhelming force. Others argue that Hezbollah will lay low for a year or two, rearm, and then strike us. Let me be clear: any violation of the ceasefire, including rearming efforts, will be met with force. I understand that some doubt our resolve, just as many doubted we would launch a ground operation in Gaza, storm Shifa, Khan Yunis, or Rafah, or withstand international pressure."
"There are three main reasons for the ceasefire:
- Focusing on the Iranian threat: I won't elaborate further.
- Refreshing our forces and replenishing supplies: There have been delays in weapons and ammunition deliveries, which are expected to resume soon.
- Isolating Hamas: From the second day of the war, Hamas counted on Hezbollah, but with Hezbollah now out of the equation, Hamas is left alone. This increases our pressure on Hamas and supports the sacred mission of freeing our hostages."
"In the past year, we've turned the tide. We were attacked on seven fronts and responded with force. We are reshaping the Middle East thanks to our brave soldiers, your steadfastness, and the wise management of the war."
"A good agreement is one that is enforced, and we will enforce this agreement. We will establish security, revitalize the north, and continue together—until victory."
Before the statement, the Security Cabinet convened to discuss and approve the ceasefire proposal. Earlier today, after facing significant criticism, Netanyahu held a round of talks with northern regional leaders and government ministers to address their concerns and secure their support for the agreement.
Meanwhile, Lebanon's Al-Jadeed TV channel reported that the US and France would simultaneously announce the agreement between Israel and Lebanon, which is set to take effect tomorrow morning.
Israeli officials emphasized that the agreement's success hinges on the Lebanese army's implementation of counter-terrorism operations in the region between the Litani River and the Israeli border. According to senior government figures, the IDF will assign specific tasks to the Lebanese army based on intelligence gathered by Israel. The gradual withdrawal of IDF forces will proceed only if these tasks are carried out to Israel's satisfaction.
