Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that "Israel will continue its war against the besieged Gaza Strip for 68 days until the end," despite international pressures on Israel to end the conflict. Netanyahu made these statements during a call with troops from the 460th Brigade of the Armored Corps participating in ground operations in Gaza, saying: "I want you to convey this from me to every soldier - we will continue until the end, until victory, until Hamas is destroyed. This matter is settled."