Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will end the military operation in the Gaza Strip in the coming days with the utmost determination, aimed at the complete defeat of the Palestinian group Hamas. He made this statement during an address to the nation on May 13, 2025, stressing that Israel will not retreat until it destroys Hamas' military and political potential and frees the remaining hostages. Netanyahu's statement came amid preparations for a possible escalation of hostilities and increased international pressure related to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Netanyahu said the operation, which began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, was entering a decisive phase. According to Reuters, Israeli forces already control most of the Gaza Strip, including the Philadelphi Corridor on the border with Egypt, which they captured in May 2024. The IDF has destroyed much of Hamas's tunnel network, killed key leaders of the group, including Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, and reduced its rocket capabilities. According to the Israeli military, about 20 Hamas fighters have been killed since the beginning of the operation, although the group-controlled Gaza Health Ministry reports 46 deaths, without distinguishing between combatants and civilians.

Netanyahu's statement came amid reports that preparations are underway for a new operation, codenamed "Gideon's Chariots," if Hamas does not agree to release the hostages before US President Donald Trump's visit to the region on May 16. The Times of Israel reports that the IDF is planning to take full control of the Gaza Strip to prevent Hamas from re-establishing itself. The group currently holds 59 hostages, of whom Israel estimates 24 are still alive. Ceasefire talks brokered by Qatar and Egypt have stalled despite a January 2025 agreement that led to a temporary ceasefire and the release of three hostages.