Israeli prime minister says Gaza war may take ‘longer time’

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that war on the Gaza Strip may take a longer period of time.

“Today the world is united behind Israel,” Netanyahu told a press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Jerusalem.

"Hamas barbarism threatens Europe and threatens the world. Hamas is the test case of the world against barbarism," he said.

The Israeli premier also warned Lebanese group Hezbollah against joining the war against Israel, saying it will regret it if the group decides to do so.

The conflict in Gaza, which has been under Israeli bombardment and a blockade since Oct. 7, began when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

More than 7,100 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 5,791 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar