Israel Vows to Hunt Down All Hamas Militants Involved in Oct. 7 Attack

Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that approximately 4,000 out of an estimated 6,000 militants who participated in the October 7th massacre have been eliminated, with around 2,000 still at large. Katz emphasized that the directive to pursue these remaining militants is not limited to Hamas or the Gaza Strip. He and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have instructed the security establishment to "pursue and eliminate them all without limitation and in any situation, from the senior to the junior."

Prime Minister Netanyahu, speaking at a state memorial ceremony at Mount Herzl, echoed this sentiment, stating that Israel is confronting the perpetrators of the October 7th attack daily. "Everyone who was involved in the attack against us and held our hostages is living on borrowed time," Netanyahu declared.

Netanyahu also referenced Operation "With Greatness" (עם כלביא), explaining the necessity of addressing existential threats rather than deferring them to future generations. He acknowledged that while the IDF's actions have removed a clear and present danger to Israel's existence, the mission is not yet complete. "Thanks to the bravery of our fighters, we have turned the tables, we have removed a clear and immediate danger of the annihilation of millions of our citizens and the destruction of the state. We have achieved tremendous achievements, but there are still missions ahead of us."

Addressing international criticism, Netanyahu accused some foreign leaders of spreading falsehoods and seeking to boycott Israel. He asserted that Israel is engaged in a vital and just war of survival and that its soldiers' morality is unparalleled. "The expectation of our fighters to be good fighters, good people, comes first and foremost from within us," he added.