In an interview aired last night on Fox News with Mark Levin, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu discussed Israel’s ongoing military efforts and the country’s evolving diplomatic landscape, while underscoring the deep bond between Israel and the United States under the leadership of President Donald Trump.
Netanyahu opened the discussion by reaffirming his admiration for President Trump’s diplomatic achievements, specifically praising his role in orchestrating the Abraham Accords. “If anyone deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, it’s President Trump,” he stated, even going so far as to say Trump might be worthy of “maybe four Nobel Prizes for him.” He also highlighted Trump’s diplomatic influence in other global arenas, including facilitating peace between Rwanda and the Congo and reducing tensions between India and Pakistan.
Describing a dramatic change in regional attitudes, Netanyahu spoke of a growing openness among neighboring nations, mentioning the variety of communication methods being used—“back-channels, side-channels, open-channels, secret-channels”—to explore relationships with Israel. He attributed this shift to a common understanding of “peace through strength,” and a shared concern over the threat posed by Iran.
When asked about the recent military action in Iran, Netanyahu explained that the decision to strike was driven by Iran’s rapid advancement toward acquiring nuclear weapons and developing long-range missile capabilities. He likened the mission to “taking out two lumps of cancer,” arguing that Israel’s survival was at stake given its small geographic size, “the size of New Jersey.”
He elaborated that previous efforts had delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions for nearly a decade through various covert means, but the current escalation demanded stronger, more direct measures.
Turning to the conflict in Gaza, Netanyahu condemned Hamas for its brutal tactics in the October 7th assault, which he described as acts of “deliberate targeting of civilians. Deliberate rape. Deliberate murder. Deliberate decapitation. And with GoPro cameras.”
He contrasted Israel’s military strategy, which he said involves extensive efforts to minimize civilian casualties—including advanced warnings and humanitarian aid—with Hamas’s alleged exploitation of its own citizens for propaganda and military advantage. “Hamas does everything in its power to have civilian casualties,” he asserted, calling their strategy a case of “double war crimes.”
On the topic of hostages, Netanyahu reported that out of 255 individuals taken, 148 have been recovered, both alive and deceased. Twenty living hostages and thirty deceased individuals remain in captivity. He expressed his determination to secure the release of every last one. “I intend to get all of them back. To do that, we’re now negotiating a deal which would give us half the hostages, living and the dead, for 60 days as far. We’re working on it. I worked on it with President Trump on this visit and I hope we get it.”
He also described how Hamas has exploited humanitarian aid to fund its terror infrastructure. “I want as many saved. And in the process, we hope that we can get an arrangement where we can bring humanitarian aid to the civilian population without having Hamas loot it. That’s what they do. They loot it, jack up the prices and use the money to recruit 14, 15 year olds to their terror army. I hope that changes. So we’re working on it, but I think we’ll end up meeting all our goals, achieving the release and safe return of our hostages, all of them, destroying Hamas,” added Netanyahu.
He emphasized that the goal is to completely eliminate Hamas from Gaza, likening the group to the Nazi SS. “They’re not going to be there any more than the Nazi SS would be left in Germany. And ensuring that Gaza doesn’t pose a threat to Israel anymore. I’m confident we’ll achieve that. That’s more or less the last stronghold of Iran in our neighborhood, except the Houthis. How come they’re not demonstrating for the Houthis? There’s no difference between the Houthis and Hamas.”
Netanyahu spoke warmly about his connection with President Trump, describing their relationship as a genuine alliance built on trust and candid dialogue. “We’ve never had a friend like him in the White House. That’s an understatement.” He praised Trump’s clarity on the Iranian threat, noting his decisiveness in opposing Iran’s nuclear goals.
He pointed out that Trump recognized Iran’s ambitions as a danger not only to Israel but to the U.S. as well, given the potential reach of Iranian long-range missiles. Netanyahu emphasized the unity of their goals: “our enemy is your enemy, and that our victory is your victory.” He expressed appreciation for the strength of American military support, including elite operations, and said it has “projected American power and resolve around the world.”
Addressing speculation about broader conflict erupting in the region, Netanyahu rejected the idea that the world is on the brink of global war, calling such fears “folly” and “nonsense.” He spoke highly of the coordination between the U.S. and Israel, pointing to the unparalleled alignment during Trump’s tenure and highlighting the lifesaving intelligence shared with America to prevent terror attacks.
He concluded by saying the regime in Iran is increasingly vulnerable, and he voiced hope for a more peaceful and prosperous future in the Middle East—one driven by technological and economic partnerships between Israel and Arab nations. “We’ve won a great victory, and that can produce terrific growth,” he affirmed.
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