“Many opportunities” have opened up in the wake of Israel’s military campaign against Iran, including “broad” regional moves, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.
“We removed an immediate existential threat—two deadly threats to our existence,” the prime minister said during a visit to the headquarters of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), in reference to the Israel Defense Forces’ destruction of Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
“Many opportunities have opened up, as you surely know, as a result of this victory. First of all, to rescue the hostages,” continued Netanyahu, referring to the captives being held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas. “Of course, we will also need to resolve the Gaza issue and defeat Hamas, but I believe we will accomplish both tasks,” he added.
“Beyond that, broad regional opportunities are emerging—in almost all of which you are partners,” said Netanyahu.
“You did a very, very good job in neutralizing their [Iran’s] advantage, the targets and in very effective prevention. But in both offense and defense, you’re breaking new ground,” Netanyahu told ISA officers.
The Shin Bet’s acting director, only identified by his initial, “S,” revealed that the agency had thwarted an average of two “significant” terror attacks on the Jewish state’s soil during each day of “Operation Rising Lion.”
“The covert campaign led by the Shin Bet has measurable results,” the ISA head said, noting that the approximate 24 attacks that were foiled during the 12 days of war came on top of the 700 thwarted this year.
“I want to praise and thank the thousands of Shin Bet employees who acted to deny our enemies any achievement within our borders,” the internal security chief stated, adding: “This is a good opportunity to praise our colleagues in the IDF and the Mossad for exceptional offensive actions that brought unprecedented achievements.”
During the visit, ISA officials briefed Netanyahu on “special operations conducted in the Gaza Strip, including missions to retrieve both living and fallen hostages, the Shin Bet’s activities to thwart Iranian espionage attempts in Israel and technological tools developed by the agency and used during the war,” according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
On Thursday, Netanyahu said that Jerusalem’s victory over the Islamic Republic had opened up opportunities for a “dramatic expansion” of regional peace agreements.
The Israeli government was “working vigorously” on expanding the circle of peace, he said.
“Along with the release of our hostages and the defeat of Hamas, there is a window of opportunity here that must not be wasted,” Netanyahu emphasized in his remarks. “We must not waste even a single day.”
Netanyahu’s remarks came after the Israel Hayom daily reported that he and U.S. President Donald Trump had agreed in recent discussions to end the Gaza war against Hamas and expand the Abraham Accords.
