Netanyahu says Israel is close to killingclose to killing October 7 architects
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on May 17 that Israel is close to completing one of its declared war aims in Gaza by eliminating those he described as the architects of the October 7 attacks.
He made the remarks in Jerusalem during the weekly cabinet meeting, as the Gaza war continues to shape regional security and hostage negotiations.
The statement matters because it signals Israel is still pursuing senior Hamas-linked targets while the conflict remains unresolved.
Israeli Government
Netanyahu presented the campaign as a near-complete mission to punish those behind the October 7 attacks and hostage-taking. His comments framed the strikes and killings as part of a broader effort to restore deterrence and meet a core war objective.
Hamas-aligned View
From Hamas’s perspective, Israel’s statement reflects an ongoing campaign of targeted killings against its leadership and network. It also highlights that the war’s political end state remains unsettled even as military pressure continues.
- Jerusalem’s old city contains holy sites central to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
- Netanyahu first became prime minister in 1996, making him one of Israel’s most familiar political figures.
- Hostage crises often last years, not weeks, when armed groups use captives as negotiation leverage.
Israel-Lebanon War
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a 60-day ceasefire that mandates Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon while the Lebanese army deploys across all border crossings and the south.
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