Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a message to the remaining hostages in Gaza, as well as to Hamas militants still fighting.

"We have not forgotten you. Not even for a second," Netanyahu said in both Hebrew and English "The people of Israel are with you. We will not falter, and we will not rest until we bring all of you home."

The Israeli government took steps Friday to ensure that those in Gaza heard Netanyahu, setting up loudspeakers at the border to blast his words into the territory.

The prime minister's office also claimed that the Israeli army had taken over mobile phones in Gaza to broadcast his message. AP journalists inside Gaza saw no immediate evidence of Netanyahu’s speech being broadcast on phones there.