Israeli War Council: There Are Acts of Violence by Extremists That Must Be Condemned

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed today, during a meeting of the War Council, that he "heard stories about sexual assaults during a meeting with hostages returned by Hamas during the ceasefire in Gaza." He stated in a press conference, "I heard, and you have also heard, about sexual assaults and unprecedented brutal rapes." Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant condemned "the acts of violence committed by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank," noting that "in a rule of law, only the police and army have the right to use force." Galant added in a press conference, "Unfortunately, there are acts of violence by extremists that we must condemn." Chief of Staff Benny Gantz asserted, "We will continue the ground war in Gaza as we pledged, and nothing will stop us; Israel determines its future." He continued, "There is a significant price in this war, and we extend our condolences and sympathy to the families of our soldiers who died in Gaza." He said, "We are making a tremendous effort to bring back all the captives, especially the fighters who sacrifice themselves."