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In a defiant address given only an hour after the truce began in Gaza, Israel's prime minister repeated his pledge to force Hamas to disarm.

During his televised address, the Israeli leader stated he had resisted intense domestic and international pressure to accomplish his main objective of guaranteeing "the safety of Israel," while at the same time criticizing his political opponents and restating a threat to resume military operations if required.

"Hamas agreed the agreement only when it sensed the sword pressing on its neck and it remains on its neck ... Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza must become free of weapons ... If this is achieved the peaceful way, so much the better. And if not, it must be accomplished the hard way," Netanyahu stated.

Key Elements of the Agreement

The deal finalized early on Thursday and activated on Friday will lead to Hamas freeing 20 living hostages within three days, the retreat of Israeli forces from certain areas of Gaza, and release for approximately two thousand Palestinian prisoners incarcerated in prisons. Additional steps are still unclear.

Electoral Consequences for Netanyahu

Political analysts categorized the speech as "campaign rhetoric."

"He is always campaigning. In every speech it is: 'I ordered this', 'I ordered that'. It's consistently me, me, me ... This is what he does best," observed an Israeli politics specialist.

The prime minister's approval ratings has not recovered substantially since the October 7th surprise Hamas raid that initiated the Gaza conflict. The assault resulted in 1,200 deaths, primarily civilians, with an additional 250 captured.

Political Timeline

Elections in Israel are due within about a year, but many analysts anticipate them sooner. The most recent survey, published on Friday, showed broad support for the truce and hostage release among Israelis had increased Netanyahu's party by a minimal margin, and that the existing government would likely lose by a wide margin.

Future Challenges

The next period will present additional difficulties for Netanyahu, who has held power in Israel for 18 years cumulatively. He faces legal allegations that could result in a ban on government positions or potentially jail, and will also face renewed demands for a full judicial inquiry into the failures that enabled Hamas's 2023 raid.

Any ceasefire in Gaza is expected to be unstable, and executing thornier parts of the peace plan will be extremely difficult.

Political Survival

The key for Netanyahu will be to persuade Israelis that he continues to be "Mr Security" despite the most severe security failure in the nation's existence happening during his leadership. External support from important partners is expected to assist his standing.

"Netanyahu is the primary narrative of this conflict ... Currently, Israel stands in the most secure situation in its existence: there is diminished Syrian danger, Hezbollah has suffered a severe blow, and similarly Iran and Hamas. His probable argument will be: security was compromised, but we rose in full force – and we defeated every adversary," stated a strategic adviser.

Wider Electoral Landscape

Notwithstanding the costs of the war in Gaza, Israel's international isolation and domestic divisions, the broader political landscape may continue to benefit Netanyahu. Political rivals is divided.

"The Israeli public don't seem to have significant interest for the peacenik stuff at the present time," commented a journalist. "While perhaps appearing logical, the fundamental issue in the nation's political discourse is still the same as it has been for a considerable period: support Netanyahu, or oppose Netanyahu?"