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Decision to advance into Gaza City ‘unequivocal,’ Netanyahu tells Ernst

“Israel will act with determination and strength in order to return all our hostages and defeat Hamas,” the Israeli prime minister said.

Benjamin Netanyahu and Jodi Ernst
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) at his office in Jerusalem on Aug. 25, 2025. Credit: Haim Zach/GPO.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) at his office in Jerusalem on Monday, according to a readout from the premier’s office.

The two discussed the Israeli Security Cabinet’s recent decision to advance the war into Gaza City, which Netanyahu said was “unequivocal.” The prime minister also told Ernst that “Israel will act with determination and strength in order to return all our hostages and defeat Hamas,” and that “these missions are intertwined,” according to the readout.

Netanyahu also met with Ernst and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) in Jerusalem in April and thanked the members of Congress “for their personal and bipartisan support for the State of Israel throughout the war” against the Hamas terror group in Gaza.

The unequivocal remarks come in reaction to allegations of ties between Michigan Senate Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed and the Islamist group.
The Israeli prime minister called cooperation with Abbas and Tibi a “disaster"; Eisenkot says lawmakers accepting his principles could be partners.
“Abdul promises to get money out of politics,” the Michigan congresswoman wrote. “He can begin by getting Israel out of his explanation for everything Michigan cannot afford.”
The 190,000-member group’s leaders wrote that it has “held listening sessions” with Jewish psychologists.