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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Thursday, Feb 19, that Iran would face a devastating response if it launched an attack on Israel, as tensions escalate amid U.S. military buildup in the region and ongoing nuclear talks.
"If the ayatollahs make a mistake and attack us, they will experience a response they cannot even imagine," Netanyahu said during a military graduation ceremony at the Israeli Army Officers Training School in southern Israel.
The prime minister spoke alongside President Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Israel Katz and Israeli Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir at the ceremony.
Netanyahu revealed he had discussed the Iran situation with U.S. President Donald Trump.
"I clarified to my friend President Trump the principles that Israel believes should guide negotiations with Iran," Netanyahu said, adding that, "We are prepared for every scenario."
Netanyahu announced that Israel and the United States have agreed there will be no reconstruction of war-devastated Gaza before the territory is demilitarized.
"We agreed with our ally the U.S.—there will be no reconstruction of Gaza before the demilitarization of Gaza," Netanyahu said.
"Our forces are throughout the Strip. Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarized. Soon Hamas will face a dilemma—to disarm the easy way or the hard way. But I promise—it will be disarmed and Gaza will no longer threaten Israel," he added.
Israeli Defense Minister Katz echoed the warnings against Iran, declaring that Israel would act against all threats.
"We beheaded the leadership of the Houthi terror organization in Yemen that attacked Israel, and removed the threats of annihilation over the State of Israel in Operation Rising Lion in Iran," Katz said.
"We will not allow threats of annihilation against the State of Israel in the future either, and we will act against every threat, near and far," he added.
"I say from here to all our enemies: Do not test us and do not challenge our determination, because you will find a united people and a strong and victorious army facing you," he noted.
Katz said the Israeli army will remain in Gaza's security zone "forever" and announced that Israel has changed its security doctrine from defense to "initiative, decision, removing threats and defending borders and Israeli communities from within enemy territory."
Netanyahu surveyed what he called Israel's achievements in the war, stating that despite the devastating October 7 attack, Israel succeeded in changing the regional equation.
"We removed the chokehold of the Iranian axis of evil. We returned home all our hostages—to the last one," Netanyahu said.
He highlighted a shift in Israel's security doctrine from defense to offensive operations deep in enemy territory.
"Whoever boasted that Israel is as weak as a spider's web—is no longer here. The iron fist struck," Netanyahu said, referring to the elimination of terror leaders.
"Today Israel is a stronger country than ever," he said.
However, he cautioned that "the Middle East is at a crossroads. The extremist elements refuse to give up and are reorganizing to challenge us."
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