Israel’s top military commander this week told his troops that their sacrifices on the battlefield set the stage for a temporary operational pause in Gaza that has allowed for the release of more than 70 hostages abducted by Hamas militants.
While each released hostage brings great relief to the nation, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the Israel Defense Force chief of staff, said hundreds of innocent Israelis, including women and children, remain in captivity.
“There is no ounce of relief in the fact that more remain [inside Gaza]. We will operate to bring them all back,” Gen. Halevi said Tuesday. “The return of the hostages is a bright light for us. It is also further evidence of the results of significant military pressure and resolute ground operations, which created the conditions for the return of our civilians.”
He said the IDF is prepared to continue the fighting in Gaza to achieve the two goals of the operation — destroy Hamas and free the hostages who were taken Oct. 7 during the Hamas rampage into southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 people.
Israeli commanders are taking advantage of the cease-fire brokered in Qatar to strengthen their readiness and approve future operational plans, Gen. Halevi said.
“We are preparing for the continuation of the operation to dismantle Hamas. It will take time, these are complex goals, but they are justified beyond measure,” he said.
In his statement on Tuesday, Gen. Halevi again acknowledged the military and intelligence failures that allowed Hamas to breach the perimeter and launch a lightning-fast attack that caused havoc in Israeli communities near Gaza.
“We will ensure accountability. We will listen attentively to every one of our commanders and learn from what they thought and said,” Gen. Halevi said. “There will be fundamental and deep investigations, but for now, we must focus on the fighting.”
