Community members gathered in the streets holding banners and chanting against Rio’s governor, Claudio Castro, whom they accused of ordering excessive violence . Witnesses say several victims had already surrendered before being shot. “We are not defending criminals, we are defending justice,” said resident Claudia Vitalino. “Police officers do not have the power to kill people, they need to learn that,” she told Viory.

Others demanded transparency from the authorities, calling for the release of autopsy reports and police camera footage. “Where is the evidence to say that all those bodies lying in the street were really criminals?” asked resident Reis. “The police are made to protect only the rights of the bourgeoisie, not us.”

Authorities have yet to release a full report on the operation or confirm the number of deaths.

“But,” he continued, “as the Chief of Staff said, the campaign is not yet finished. Great challenges still lie ahead of us, but also opportunities.”

The prime minister said he had faced “tremendous pressure from home and abroad” to halt the war, naming specific operations that drew international criticism, including the Israeli military's entry into Rafah and seizure of the Philadelphi Route. He also cited broader calls to withdraw from Gaza while regional threats remained.

“I firmly rejected all these pressures,” Netanyahu said, “because I had one and only one consideration in mind, the security of Israel.”

Netanyahu added that his military ops had 'trapped' Hamas: "We corner it from all sides in preparation for the next stages of the plan where Hamas will be disarmed and then dismantled.