For the first time since the beginning of the war in Israel, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a statement to the media this evening (Thursday), in which he addressed the ongoing military operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In his remarks, he pledged to work on the return of the captives and emphasized that the military is currently focusing on the next phases of the war.
"We are at decisive moments – this is a war for our home, and we will win it. It's either us or them," said Gallant. "On October 7th, Hamas declared war. This is a war against Israeli civilians, young children, women, and Holocaust survivors. It's a war of murder, rape, abduction, and looting. A war designed to deter us and to thwart the will of the Israeli citizens to live here."
"We will win this war. I know this because I saw the IDF soldiers and the civilians fighting, the soldiers charging in the face of the fire, the officers and commanders falling in battle and leading. With their bravery and effort, they stopped a more extensive attack," he clarified. "Within 24 hours, we switched to a deadly, powerful fire attack. It is conducted from the air, from the land and from the sea. It hits the tunnels, the communication rooms, and the terrorists - from those in the field to those who manage them. This war is precise, deadly and powerful."
"I know that it is our duty to win this war, this is the unwritten contract between the government and the public in Israel. It is my duty as the Minister of Defense to lead to the fact that we will win the battle, and the citizens of Israel will be able to continue to live here in peace and quiet. We are fighting fire and creating the conditions for the continuation of the campaign, additional stages will also come - we are preparing them and we will carry them out. The management of the war is done with the best of our people."
"As the Minister of Defense, I see only one objective before my eyes: to bring about Israel's victory over this tough and wicked enemy, the embodiment of evil, the ISIS organization in Gaza. Additionally, in this war, we experienced an event we had never encountered before – over 200 abductions, and we lost 1,400 people. I understand and am deeply pained by the very heavy price paid by those who fell in battle, and I am determined to make every effort to return the captives to their families."
"Our goal is victory in this war and the return of the captives. What will happen in the next 75 years depends on the outcome of this battle. There is no other choice; we will win, it's either us or them," concluded Gallant.
In response to a question about concerns regarding soldiers' fatigue due to delays of the ground entry, Gallant said, "The unwritten contract between the IDF soldiers and the State of Israel is that they need to be ready, sharp, and jump into action the moment they are released. That time will come."