TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to use as much military might as necessary to fight Hamas.
In a news conference on Saturday, the premiere said Israel will fight "as long as it will take" to restore peace in the country.
Netanyahu said that at this point, Israel had no intention of brokering a cease-fire with Hamas after a 72-hour truce that began Friday was broken after less than two hours.
He called Israeli soldiers "heroes" and expressed sorrow to the families of the innocent victims.
In the 26 days of fighting, some 1,650 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died, Palestinian health official Ashraf al-Kidra said. Sixty-three Israeli soldiers and three civilians have also died.
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