UPDATED: >> Watch clips of Israel’s Prime Minister speaking in English on Saturday evening (Israel time) on the latest developments in Gaza, and the state of U.S.-Israel relations.

>> Kidnapped soldier Hadar Goldin is dead, IDF tells family — Army’s chief rabbi, defense minister bring the bitter tidings to Givati officer’s parents, siblings and fiancee, as large crowd mourns outside (Times of Israel)

(Denver, Colorado) — It’s not over yet, but Israel is winning in the battle against radical Islamic terrorism in Gaza. Here’s the latest.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon addressed their nation on live TV in Hebrew at 9pm on Saturday evening, the beginning of Day #27 of Operation Protective Edge.

Here are highlights of their message:

• Israel’s military operation against Hamas and the terrorists in Gaza is not over —  but they are making tremendous progress and will continue aggressively until the terrorist attacks on Israel are neutralized and the situation is calm and stable.
• That said, Israel will be done destroying the terror tunnels threatening Israel in the next 24 hours or so.
• The IDF will then begin withdrawing ground forces from Gaza unilaterally.
• Israel will not try to negotiate another ceasefire with Hamas.
• Israel will continue to hit the terrorists with air power, and will retain full freedom of action against the terrorists.
• In effort to calm tensions with U.S., Netanyahu thanked President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry for their support for Israel’s right of self-defense.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says in a press conference that IDF forces have ‘destroyed thousands of terror targets,’ and that after the tunnels inside the Gaza Strip are destroyed, the IDF will continue in its mission to restore security to Israel’s citizens,” reports Haaretz.

“All the options are on the table to restore security,” he said.

“The prime minister said Operation Protective Edge is complex, due to fighting in densely populated areas, and said Israel regrets the death of every Palestinian civilian,” Haaretz noted. “Netanyahu also said the operation has the support of the United States and of Europe.”

“The U.S. has been terrific and has given us tremendous support during the Gaza crisis,” Netanyahu said during the question time of the press conference.

“Netanyahu’s press conference was held shortly after the family of 2nd. Lt. Hadar Goldin, believed captured by Hamas, demanded Israel will not leave their son behind,” the Israeli daily noted.

“Israel will continue to do everything it can to bring its missing soldier home,” the Prime Minister said.

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