Two days into the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi today (Sunday) addressed the IDF soldiers and their commanders and clarified that they will return to fight after the completion of the deal to release the abductees.
"Our just war for the house continues. In weeks of stubborn fighting and maneuvering in wooded areas, we achieved many operational achievements," Halevi said in a letter to the soldiers. "We hit senior Hamas officials and its operatives, exposed enemy headquarters, located tunnels and terrorist infrastructure, and destroyed them. This is the result of a high-quality and precise operational action by the land, air, and sea forces, combined with fire and intelligence and with logistics and ICT support. I am proud of you for these achievements!"
He also stated "I met many of you at the end of long hours of fighting on the ground and in the underground, facing complex challenges. In every meeting, I saw in your eyes the magnitude of the hour, the fighting spirit, and the determination to achieve all the goals of the war. I heard you say to me: 'We want Fight until we return the kidnapped. That's what we do!"
According to him, "The IDF and its fighters are fighting fiercely, taking risks and protecting the lives of our people and the values of the IDF, in the face of a cruel enemy who uses civilians as human shields. We were able to create conditions for the political outline for the first release of children and mothers during the ceasefire. With the completion of the move, we will return to fight with full determination, for the continued release of the abductees until the dissolution of Hamas."
Halevi emphasized that "the IDF forces remain prepared in the territory of the Gaza Strip in accordance with the operational considerations. These days we will focus on defense, learning, increasing competence, and preparing plans for the future. We will do this while maintaining high vigilance, discipline, and operational vigilance to ensure the peace of our forces. We are determined and ready to continue fighting as long as necessary."
"On the way to achievements, we lost fighters and commanders who fought by our side with courage and fortitude. We continue their path, we are obliged to them as they were to us and we promise that their sacrifice will not be in vain" he added. "We will also carry together a prayer for the healing of all our wounded friends."
In conclusion, Halevi said that "on Shabbat, we read in the Parshat Vayetze on Jacob's journey from Be'er Sheva to Haran. In his dream, Jacob sees a 'ladder placed on the ground and its head reaching to heaven'.
Together we climb the ladder firmly planted in the soil of our country thanks to you, and we will continue to climb it higher and higher - until victory! The people of Israel raise their eyes to the IDF and put their trust in it. We will not stop until we restore peace and security to the State of Israel."