Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likened Hamas to al Qaeda, ISIS and other extremist Islamist groups Tuesday as he implored the international community to hold Palestinian militants responsible for the bloodshed in Gaza. Israel's top politician said Hamas must be held accountable for rejecting multiple cease-fire agreements and a relentless attack on Israeli civilians.
Netanyahu made his comments at a joint press conference in Tel Aviv alongside U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon. "What we're seeing here with Hamas is another instance of Islamist extremism, violent extremism that has no resolvable grievance," Netanyahu said. "Hamas is like ISIS, Hamas is like al Qaeda, Hamas is like Hezbollah, Hamas is like Boko Haram." Ban, who earlier in the day met Secretary of State John Kerry in Cairo, urged both sides to work towards a two-state solution. "My message to Israelis and Palestinians is the same: stop fighting, start talking and take on the root causes of the conflict so we are not back to the same situation in another six months or a year," he said.
IN-DEPTH
- John Kerry Says Gaza Cease-Fire Is 'Not Enough,' Urges Talks
- Americans Fight for Israel as 'Lone Soldiers' in Gaza Strip
- Netanyahu Says Hamas Wants to 'Pile Up the Bodies' for Sympathy
