Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu) met with British Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, on Wednesday, and noted that Israel expects a “special understanding” from London regarding Operation Protective Edge in Gaza.

“One of the most difficult, but also magnificent periods of Britain, was when London was bombed during World War II,” Liberman said. “We learned from Churchill that even if the price is blood, sweat, and tears, a nation who wants to live must fight resolutely for freedom.”

“We cannot allow Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and cities in the South to be perennially barraged by missiles,” he continued. “It is our duty to fight resolutely to allow the freedom and return to normal life for the citizens of Israel.” 

Liberman drew a comparison between Hamas and Nazi Germany.

“Hamas is not interested in solving the conflict between the two countries,” he said. “The goals of Hamas are very similar as the Nazis: extermination of Jews – and therefore, the end of Hamas and [Nazism] and its leaders should be the same.” 

Liberman has been particularly vocal – both before Operation Protective Edge and during the current ground offensive – about physically retaking Gaza from Hamas, which took power in 2007. 

Earlier this month, Liberman proposed – and not for the first time – that Israel should “consider” retaking Gaza, noting that a “limited” operation against Hamas could prove ineffective.

“We have to decide whether we are going to explore the alternative of full occupation of the Gaza Strip,” Liberman said. “We saw that a limited operation only strengthens Hamas in the end; the alternative is clear.”

Liberman has also rejected the possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza.

“We need to end the operation (only) once the IDF controls the entire Gaza Strip,” Liberman said last week. “There is no other way than this to deal with terror.”