Benjamin Netanyahu visited troops in the Gaza Strip on Christmas as they continue to fight against the terrorist group Hamas. The prime minister of Israel reinforced his message and assured that they will continue to fight with all their strength against the terrorists, despite the fact that the international community and even Joe Biden asked him for more moderation.

Wearing combat clothing, “Bibi” shared photos of his visit on social media, where he is seen greeting his soldiers and talking with them.

"Today with our heroic fighters on the battlefield of the Gaza Strip. I told them two things: first: we will do everything possible to maintain your safety and your life. Second: we do not stop and we will not stop fighting. The war continues until the end. Until Hamas is finished, nothing less than that," he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

At the same time, as reported by the Associated Press, he distanced himself from the voices calling for a change of course. "We are expanding the fight in the coming days, and this will be a long battle and it isn’t close to finished," Netanyahu added.

This is the prime minister's second trip to the Gaza Strip since the war began on Oct. 7, when Hamas unexpectedly attacked Israel in the early hours of that day. The operation was named "Al-Aqsa Flood."

That day, the commandos of the Jahidasite group managed to infiltrate the south of the Jewish state, murdering around 1,140 people, mostly civilians.

Israel close to controlling the Gaza Strip

Israel’s imminent control of the Gaza Strip was recently pointed out by Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). According to recent statements, the IDF has operational control of several areas in the north and is close to completing operations in the final areas in that region.

"We have moved to fighting in Daraj-Tuffah. Daraj-Tuffah is adjacent to Shejaiya, and it completes [our operations] in Jabaliya, Beit Hanoun, Shejaiya, and Daraj-Tuffah," the official said at a press conference.

Although Shejaiya is one of the areas where some of the most intense fighting has arisen, Hagari expressed confidence that the IDF would soon be able to focus on the south. “IDF troops are preparing to expand the activity to additional areas of the Strip, with an emphasis on its south,” he concluded.