How IDF Operations in Gaza Paved the Way for Hostage Releases
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi has credited the military’s intensive fighting against Hamas with creating the conditions for the recent ceasefire agreement and the subsequent release of hostages.
In a video statement following a visit to Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, Halevi emphasized the IDF’s significant achievements during the conflict. “We have defeated Hamas’s military wing, eliminated key commanders, including their leader Yahya Sinwar,” he stated.
While acknowledging the human cost of the conflict, Halevi stressed the IDF’s unwavering commitment to bringing all hostages home. “We will not rest until they are all returned to their families,” he declared.
Halevi highlighted the crucial role of the IDF and Shin Bet’s operations in Gaza, stating that these efforts “created the conditions for the agreement that was reached.”
How IDF Operations in Gaza Paved the Way for Hostage Releases
Looking ahead, Halevi outlined the IDF’s plans for a reinforced defensive posture along the Gaza Strip border, incorporating both defensive and offensive capabilities. He emphasized the importance of preventing a recurrence of such a devastating event.
“The Middle East is undergoing significant changes,” Halevi observed. “Our threat landscape has evolved, and new opportunities have emerged. The IDF will adapt and prepare for these new challenges.”
Halevi concluded by expressing his solidarity with the families of the hostages, many of whom are still awaiting the return of their loved ones.
