Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized CBS host Margaret Brennan for promoting propaganda from anti-Israel groups in an interview.
When asked about civilian casualties in Israel’s operation against Hamas, Netanyahu emphasized his understanding of loss, but said Israel is facing an unprecedented challenge against a terrorist group hiding among civilians that has committed atrocities against Israelis.
“I think that any civilian casualty is a tragedy and I don’t say that half heartedly,” Netanyahu said.
He noted top US military strategists acknowledge this challenge. Netanyahu argued that if the US faced the equivalent of 20 9/11 attacks in one day, with 10,000 Americans held hostage, it would do far more than Israel’s efforts to warn civilians and target the enemy.
He said Israel’s goal is total victory for security and a better future, which is in the US and region’s interest, as well as a setback for Iran.
“I lost a brother in war, I myself was wounded while releasing hostages from a hijacked plane. I’ve lost friends in battle. I know what it means to lose friends and what it means to lose family members,” he said.
“But this war has been forced upon us by a cynical enemy that not only targets our civilians, has raped, beheaded, burnt babies alive, killed children in front of their parents and parents in front of their children. This enemy not only targets civilians, but hides behind civilians, Palestinian civilians, so they’re committing a double war crime,” he said.
“And all Americans that I talk to, nearly all, say that,” he said. “So Israel has gone to extraordinary lengths, calling up people, civilians, Palestinians in Gaza, telling them leave your home, sending pamphlets, we have done that effort. Hamas tries to keep them at gunpoint. We’ll clear them out of harm’s way, we’ll complete the job and achieve total victory, which is necessary to give a secure future for Israel, a better future for Gaza, a better future for the Middle East, and a setback for the Iran terror axis. That’s in all our interests. It’s in America’s interest too.”
