NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Make no mistake: Israel will not rest until Iran-backed, U.S.-designated terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah no longer pose a threat to the Jewish state -- or, as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it to the United Nations General Assembly Friday, until there is "total victory."
Israel has been fighting Hamas, in particular, since its Oct. 7 attack in Israel, during which it murdered 1,200 people in Israel of various nationalities and religions, and kidnapped more than 220 people to Gaza. As for Hezbollah, the group has been firing into northern Israel from southern Lebanon.
"Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their home safely. And that’s exactly what we’re doing," Netanyahu said. "We'll continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are met."
Citing how communities in northern Israel have been deserted because of Hezbollah's rocket fire from southern Lebanon, Netanyahu -- whose wife Sara Netanyahu was in attendance, as well Consul General of Israel in New York Ofir Akunis -- asked the audience to imagine if the same happened to cities along the U.S. southern border.
"Just imagine if terrorists turned El Paso and San Diego into ghost towns ... How long would the American government tolerate that?" he said. "Yet Israel has been tolerating this intolerable situation for almost a year. Well, I've come here today to say: Enough is enough."
He also warned Iran, whose delegation was not present, "if you strike us, we will strike you."
Netanyahu added that Israel is "focused on mopping up Hamas’ remaining fighting capabilities."
With more than 100 hostages remaining, he said, "This war can come to an end now. All that has to happen is for Hamas to surrender, lay down its arms and release all the hostages. But if they don’t – if they don’t – we will fight until we achieve total victory. Total victory. There is no substitute for it."