Netanyahu: "Whoever strikes first has a huge advantage"

• Netanyahu said that 'Israel' has adopted a proactive, offensive posture across military operations
• Netanyahu characterized refugee camps as "terrorist fortresses"

'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated during a security press briefing on Sunday, October 18, 2026, held at government headquarters that "whoever strikes first has a huge advantage," outlining 'Israel's' preemptive military strategy, using a childhood anecdote.

He told a story from his childhood stating that "as a child, I lived in a neighborhood where fights broke out from time to time. And I discovered a simple, terrible rule: whoever strikes first has a huge advantage. You come and deliver a headbutt to the one who is coming to attack you. If you strike first, you gain a massive advantage. And that means we also need to be prepared for proactive action."

Netanyahu also highlighted a fundamental shift in 'Israel's' military doctrine, stating that operations have transitioned toward a proactive, offensive approach.

Adding that "that is why we entered the refugee camps. They were not refugee camps. They were actually terrorist fortresses. We entered them, destroyed them, and we are staying inside."

His remarks come during ongoing 'Israeli' military aggression in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.