Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stern declaration of intent to eliminate Hamas, the Palestinian militant group responsible for the deadly surprise attacks over the weekend that resulted in hundreds of Israeli casualties.

In a nationally televised address, Netanyahu drew a stark comparison between Hamas and the Islamic State group, vowing to employ “unprecedented force” that would have long-lasting repercussions. He stated, “We have only started striking Hamas.

What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations. Hamas terrorists bound, burned, and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS,” Netanyahu concluded.

According to Israeli defense officials, numerous Hamas targets have been obliterated in relentless aerial bombing campaigns.

Israel also imposed a “complete siege” on Gaza, severing access to electricity, fuel, and food for the 2.3 million Palestinians, most of whom were already living in dire conditions.

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The four-day-long conflict has already resulted in a devastating loss of life, with at least 1,600 casualties reported.

Israel experienced gun battles in its own towns for the first time in decades, while neighborhoods in Gaza were reduced to rubble.

In response to the brutal aerial bombardment of Gaza, Hamas issued a warning that it would commence the execution of Israeli civilian captives.

The armed wing of Hamas, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, stated, “Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages.”

Hamas militants had abducted approximately 150 individuals, including women and children, from Israeli territory and forcibly brought them back to Gaza amid the violent conflict.

The ongoing clashes between Israel and Hamas are part of a series of recurring conflicts, often ignited by tensions surrounding a holy site in Jerusalem.

The surprise attack by Hamas over the weekend resulted in a death toll not seen since the 1973 war involving Egypt and Syria.