Despite international criticism over the Gaza war, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized that Israel "will stand alone" and defend itself alone if need be.
In remarks late Sunday marking Holocaust Remembrance Day on Monday, Netanyahu said: "In the terrible Holocaust, there were great world leaders who stood by idly; therefore, the first lesson of the Holocaust is: If we do not defend ourselves, nobody will defend us. And if we need to stand alone, we will stand alone."
Israel has been waging war against the Palestinian Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip since October 7.
This was triggered by the unprecedented massacre of more than 1,200 people killed by terrorists from Hamas and other groups in Israel.
Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive. In view of the high number of civilian casualties and the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Israel has been criticized internationally.
Israel's harsh warfare has recently caused a certain degree of alienation even among its closest ally, the United States.
US President Joe Biden regularly calls for more aid deliveries for the suffering population in the Gaza Strip.
He has urgently warned the Israeli prime minister not to send the military into the southern city of Rafah in an expected Israeli offensive before hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people crowded together there have been brought to safety.
