Israel PM Netanyahu confirms army has stormed into Gaza in ‘fight for our existence’ but warns of ‘long & difficult war’

ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed IDF army has stormed into Gaza in what he said was a “fight for our existence”. The Israeli leader though warned it would be a “long and difficult war”. ReutersBenjamin Netanyahu says the ground operation by IDF troops was the second stage in the war against Hamas[/caption] Netanyahu said troops had entered the Gaza Strip through the “gates of evil”. He said the ground operation launched by IDF troops in Gaza was the second stage in a war against the Islamist group Hamas that would be long and difficult. Speaking at a televised news conference, he said every effort would be made to rescue the more than 200 hostages held by Hamas. Netanyahu added the “supreme” goal of the operation was to “completely defeat the murderous enemy and guarantee our existence [as a state]”. “There are moments in which a state faces two options – to exist or to cease [to exist]. He claimed that Israel was doing “everything it can” to avoid civilian casualties and accused Hamas of war crimes. Netanyahu also thanked Western leaders, including the US and UK, for standing with his country. He said: “We will fight and we will win… this is the mission of our lives.” More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online.Thesun.co.uk is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.