TEL AVIV, October 8 (Sputnik) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an overnight meeting with ministers of the government's security bloc, after which he announced the end of the first phase of the operation against the Hamas movement and the destruction of most of the enemy forces on the Israeli territory.
"We are entering a long and difficult war. The war was forced upon us by the deadly Hamas attack. The first phase is ending in these hours with the destruction of most of the enemy's forces that have infiltrated our territory. At the same time, we have launched offensives that will continue without reservations or respite until we achieve our objectives," the prime minister's office quoted Netanyahu as saying in a statement.
The office added that the Israeli cabinet made a series of operational decisions aimed at destroying the military and political capabilities of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad movement. These decisions include the suspension of electricity supply to the Gaza Strip, as well as the delivery of goods and fuel.