On a visit to the southern city of Ashkelon on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the Hamas terror group would be eliminated from the Gaza Strip.
“There will be no more Hamas. It’s over. We will free all of our hostages, and we will eliminate Hamas down to its very foundations,” he said.
While noting that some may say the objectives sound contradictory—destroying Hamas and releasing the hostages—Netanyahu said they fit together.
The prime minister’s remarks focused mainly on the energy sector while he was visiting the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company (EAPC) facilities. EAPC is an Israeli pipeline transporting oil from Eilat on the Red Sea to Ashkelon on the Mediterranean.
Netanyahu said Israel would connect the energy resources of Asia, the entire Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula.
“Expected revenues from gas in the coming decade will be almost 300 billion shekels [$89 billion],” he said.
“We are going to increase and strengthen Israel’s energy capability. We have a very considerable capability,” he said, noting that Israel is also building other energy installations.
“Our opportunities are enormous. We are not going to miss them or lose them,” he said. “There is a huge opportunity here, both to defeat our enemies and ensure our economic, national, international and energy future.”
The prime minister toured EAPC ‘s installation and received a briefing from EAPC CEO Amit Shaked. He met with company management and employees, as well as senior leaders from the Israeli energy sector.
Joining him were Energy Minister Eli Cohen, Minister David Amsalem and Ashkelon Mayor Tomer Glam.
Netanyahu expressed his appreciation to all energy workers for their efforts during “Operation Rising Lion,” thanking them for making the necessary repairs to the damage from attacks.
He also visited the headquarters of the Home Front Command on Wednesday, together with Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and Home Front Commander Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo.
He heard reports of the work of soldiers, who rescued citizens from the rubble of buildings hit by Iranian missiles during “Operation Rising Lion.”
“You have done an amazing job,” said the prime minister. “There is nothing like it in the world. Together with the cooperation of the public, the emergency organizations and the authorities, many lives have been saved.”
