Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the start of the government meeting: "If I have to choose between victory over our enemies and evil propaganda against us - I choose victory"
Here is the text of PM Netanyahu's statement:
"We are deepening the maneuver on the outskirts of Gaza City, and inside Gaza City. We are eliminating the Nuhba terrorists who played a significant role in the October 7 massacre, including that damned terrorist who called his parents and boasted that he murdered 10 Israelis with his own hands. Now we have called the family and informed them that this terrorist has been eliminated. This is a clear message that we will reach everyone. I want to thank, also on your behalf, the Shin Bet and the IDF who are doing this important work.
We are eliminating terrorist infrastructures, we are eliminating criminal terrorist leaders, and we have established another humanitarian space to allow the civilian population in Gaza to leave for a place of safety and also to receive humanitarian aid there. In the meantime, about 100,000 people have left Gaza. Hamas is trying to do everything to prevent them from leaving and to remain there so that they will serve as human shields for it. Incidentally, it does not skimp on means. We only recently saw that it shoots women and children in the legs and, if necessary, shoots them. Therefore, it is expected that it will try to prevent the exit, which is obligatory both from a human perspective and from our entire concept of war. We want to focus on the terrorists themselves, and allow the civilian population to get out.