Jerusalem, 8 April, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel’s ceasefire with Iran is not the end of the campaign, portraying the pause as a tactical interval while warning that military action could resume at any time if Israel’s objectives are not secured.
In a televised statement hours after the ceasefire took effect, Netanyahu aimed to reassure the Israeli public that the halt in fighting had not caught Jerusalem off guard and did not signify a retreat from the war’s broader objectives. He stated that Israel had inflicted significant damage on Iran and claimed the Islamic Republic was now in its weakest position in years, while Israel had become stronger.
The PM said Israel had set back Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities by striking missile production infrastructure, damaging centrifuge facilities, and killing additional nuclear scientists. He argued that Iran is now relying on what remains of its existing missile stockpile rather than producing new weapons, and said Israeli operations had pushed back an existential threat.
He framed the ceasefire as only one phase in a larger campaign, saying Israel would pursue its remaining goals either through an agreement or through renewed combat.
Netanyahu stressed that Israeli and U.S. positions stay closely aligned. He highlighted his direct and regular coordination, as he put it, with President Donald Trump.
The prime minister also used the statement to thank Israelis for their conduct during the war, praising what he described as public resilience under fire. He said the home front’s discipline had allowed Israel’s military and political leadership to press ahead with operations and secure significant achievements.
Turning to Lebanon, Netanyahu made clear that the ceasefire does not apply to Hezbollah. He said Israel had insisted from the outset that the terror organization be excluded from the arrangement and signaled that operations against it would continue. He pointed to a new wave of Israeli strikes in Lebanon, saying the military had hit 100 targets in 10 minutes in what he described as Hezbollah’s heaviest blow since the 2024 pager operation.
Netanyahu said that without the current campaign, Iran would already have had nuclear weapons and a far larger missile arsenal capable of devastating Israel. He said Israeli action had pushed Iran back by years and disrupted its weapons manufacturing base.
Israel’s security cabinet is expected to convene later tonight to assess the ceasefire and the next stage of the confrontation.