"The war inside Gaza is going to be long," Israeli prime minister warns

Israeli tanks and troops move near the border with Gaza in Sderot, Israel, on October 28. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday drew a connection between the conflict with Hamas and the Arab-Israeli War between 1947 and 1949, which occurred as Israel declared its independence.

“The war inside Gaza is going to be long. This is our second independence war. We're going to save our country,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu said the second stage of the war against Hamas has begun, with the goal of destroying the group's armed wing and government, and returning hostages held in Gaza home.

“Our heroic fighters have one goal: To destroy this enemy and to make sure the existence of our country. Never again. 'Never again,' is now,” Netanyahu said during a news conference Saturday.

Netanyahu also confirmed he spoke with the family of hostages held by Hamas and vowed to them that he would exhaust all options to return their loved ones.