"Israel Fighting Hamas Without Mercy": PM Netanyahu To New Army Recruits

"You are joining the IDF (army), the splendid combat positions in order to repel a brutal enemy...We are striking them back without mercy and we will defeat them," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told new army recruits on Tuesday that Israel is fighting Hamas "without mercy", according to a statement from his office.

Israel has kept up its bombing campaign in Gaza since Hamas's October 7 attack and the coastal territory has been largely devastated by the war and the siege on its 2.4 million people.

Global concern has spiralled over Israel's conduct, the huge civilian death toll and the dire humanitarian crisis.