Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a briefing alongside Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi for over 70 foreign Diplomats and Ambassadors, saying Israel is trying to “achieve a state of deterrence against Hamas to bring an end to the fighting” but hasn’t ruled out “other options” which he says include conquering Gaza.
The briefing at Tel Aviv’s Kirya military headquarters is attended by Diplomats from the United States, the European Union, Africa, Russia, China, India, Germany, Austria, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Canada, Italy and other countries.
Netanyahu also says that the origin of the current conflict is the cancellation of the Palestinian elections.
“Hamas used the events of Jerusalem Day and the situation in Sheikh Jarrah to serve its own political interest,” PM Netanyahu said, adding that Israel is “doing everything” to minimize civilian casualties.