Netanyahu’s strong message after drone attack on residence: Won’t deter me

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday asserted his determination in the ongoing conflict with Hamas, declaring that “nothing will deter” him and reaffirming that Israel is “going to win this war”.

The rare video statement by Netanyahu, released on Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, came in the wake of a drone attack that targeted his residence in Caesarea, though he did not directly reference the incident.

In the video, posted on social media both in English and Hebrew, Netanyahu said, “You know, two days ago we eliminated the mass murderer [Hamas leader] Yahya Sinwar. As I’ve said, we’re in an existential war, and we’re continuing to the end.”

Filmed in a sunny park while donning sunglasses and a black polo shirt, Netanyahu praised the Israel Defence Forces, saying, “I’m proud of our soldiers, I’m proud of our commanders, and I’m proud of you, the citizens of Israel”.

In the English version of his address, Netanyahu described Sinwar as “the terrorist mastermind whose goons beheaded our men, raped our women, and burned babies alive”. He concluded with a resolute declaration: “We took him out, and we’re continuing our battle with Iran’s other terrorist proxies”.

Earlier in the day, a drone, launched from Lebanon, exploded near Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residence in Caesarea in southern Haifa. However, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson said Netanyahu and his wife were not present at the time of the attack.

Two drones launched from Lebanon were intercepted by air defences, setting off sirens in the Tel Aviv region. Meanwhile, a third drone successfully hit a building in Caesarea, resulting in a significant explosion.

According to the Saudi news outlet Al-Hadath, the drone attack caused damage to part of the building, but fortunately, no casualties were reported.

The attack occurred just days after Israeli forces killed Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault on Israel, which initiated the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Sinwar’s death followed a year-long pursuit by Israeli military units.