IDF Chief of Staff (Lt.-Gen.) Herzi Halevi on Thursday said that the military will hit Gaza with its full force without stopping in his first live press conference since Hamas’s Saturday invasion.
Halevi said that, “we will hit hard and take apart the rulers of Gaza.“
The IDF chief said, “Whoever is left in charge will understand very well that you do not do such things to the State of Israel.”
Referring to Hamas Gaza Chief Yahya Sinwar, he said, “This abominable attack was decided on by Yahya Sinwar, the sovereign in Gaza, which makes him and all of his apparatus under him dead men.”
Next, he said, “this will take time and will require a cool head, but it is good that our cohesion and brotherhood have all come together.”
Determined to achieve it
“We will give an eternal blow to our enemies, this is our mission and we are determined to achieve it,” he said.
Addressing a drop in the public’s faith in the IDF to provide security following Hamas’ invasion, the IDF chief stated, “We have a [social] contract” to protect Israelis which “has seen ups and downs, and this time we are at a low point and paid a heavy price.”
Halevi said, “on Saturday morning, we did not live up to” our responsibility to defend the state.
At the same time, Halevi said the current focus needed to be prosecuting the war forward against Hamas and that he has seen heroic IDF commanders and rank and file soldiers step forward as part of the wave of Israel’s comeback against Hamas.
“We will do everything to restore the contract and to return security. As part of this, we will strike deeply into Hamas’ capabilities and make a reality in Gaza which will enable more secure lives,” for Israelis.
Regarding Hezbollah, Halevi said, “To Hezbollah I say one thing: the IDF is strongly prepared on all fronts, for every scenario. I would not start with us.”
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