Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israeli forces will persist in their efforts to eliminate terrorists and rescue hostages after a failed assassination attempt on him.

Mr Netanyahu’s statement on X followed a failed assassination attempt on him on Saturday. 

Mr Netanyahu said, “The attempt by Iran’s proxy Hezbollah to assassinate me and my wife today was a grave mistake. This will not deter me or the State of Israel from continuing our just war against our enemies in order to secure our future. I say to Iran and its proxies in its axis of evil: Anyone who tries to harm Israel’s citizens will pay a heavy price. We will continue to eliminate the terrorists and those who dispatch them. We will bring our hostages home from Gaza.”

The Israeli PM’s office on Saturday said a drone was “launched towards” Mr Netanyahu’s residence at the northern coastal town of Caesarea. 

Iran, through Iranian state news agency IRNA, said that Hezbollah was responsible for the attack on Mr Netanyahu’s residence.

“The action in question has been carried out by Hezbollah in Lebanon” Iran’s mission to the UN was quoted to have said.

Attack on Mr Netanyahu’s residence came days after Israeli soldiers eliminated Hamas Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 2023 attack which claimed over 1000 Israelis.

Hamas, through Khalil al-Hayya, Mr Sinwar’s deputy who lives in exile in Qatar, said “We are continuing Hamas’s path,” adding that Mr Sinwar’s “banner will not fall.”

Mr al-Hayya further insisted Hamas would not release Israeli hostages until Israel withdrew from Gaza and freed Palestinians held hostage.