Netanyahu’s Solemn Address: Remembering Shiri Bibas and the Struggle Against Terror
Jerusalem, Israel – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a poignant speech at a combat officers graduation ceremony, displaying heart-wrenching images of Shiri Bibas and her young sons, Ariel and Kfir, as a stark reminder of the stakes involved in the ongoing conflict with Hamas.
A Solemn Tribute
"I want to show you something. I want to show you this picture of Shiri Bibas and her tender children, Ariel and Kfir Bibas. This picture says it all; I ask that you engrave it on the board of your hearts, so that you will always remember what we are fighting for and against whom we are fighting," Netanyahu implored the graduates.
Holding up a photo of the Bibas family, Netanyahu shared the harrowing story of their brutal murder by Hamas terrorists in the early days of the war. "They murdered Shiri and her children in cold blood; they strangled the tender children with their own hands," he recounted.
"And if they could, they would have killed us all with the same cruelty, until our very last man. Against this we fight, and these monsters we must and can defeat – and defeat them we will. This is our mission, and this is your mission!" he proclaimed.
A Call to Duty
Netanyahu emphasized the solemn duty of the graduating combat officers to protect Israel from such atrocities. "As the defenders of our homeland, each of you is imbued with purpose, wielding sword and shield," he said.
"We have high expectations of you, but I know that above all, you have expectations of yourselves," he added.
Trump’s Solidarity
Netanyahu expressed appreciation for President Donald Trump’s support in the fight against Hamas. "President Donald Trump sees eye to eye with us on everything related to Gaza," he stated.
He welcomed Trump’s plans to facilitate free exit for Gazans and create a better future for the region. "We support President Trump’s groundbreaking plan… I thank President Trump for his directive to supply Israel with vital weapons," Netanyahu said.
Military Objectives
Netanyahu outlined the government’s objectives in the ongoing conflict. "We have eliminated most of Hamas’s organized strength in Gaza," he asserted.
However, he emphasized that the war would continue until all Israeli abductees were returned, Hamas no longer governed Gaza, and the territory’s combat capabilities were dismantled. "It can be achieved through negotiation, and it can also be achieved by other means," he said.
Return of Hostages and Reconstruction
President Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, announced plans to return to the region on Wednesday to negotiate an extension of Phase One of the ceasefire and hostage release deal. Phase Two would address the long-term goal of preventing Hamas from returning to government leadership in Gaza.
Witkoff acknowledged that Gaza would need a lengthy reconstruction plan and estimated that it would be uninhabitable for another 15 to 20 years.
