IDF spokesman Brigadier General Daniel Hagari commented today (Sunday) on the continuation of the fighting in Gaza and revealed that the commander of the Shati Battalion, who was among those responsible for the massacre, was killed.
According to Brigadier General Hagari, "The IDF continues and expands the ground operation against the areas of gravity of Hamas in the entire Gaza Strip. The forces fight face to face with terrorists and eliminate them, the Chief of Staff held a situational assessment with the Air Force and emphasized the importance of the air assistance provided by the Air Force to the forces on land. The attacks and air assistance are based on quality intelligence against terrorist headquarters, sites for combat production, tunnels and rocket launches. This attack reduces the activity of the Air Force."
The IDF spokesman noted that during the fighting, one of the commanders from whom they launched a raid into Israeli territory for the massacre perpetrated by Hamas was eliminated.
"We are continuing the elimination of the terrorists who are leading the fighting, the IDF eliminated the commander of the Shati Battalion who was leading the fighting there. Under his command, the terrorists went to Israeli territory on October 7. We will continue to pursue the terrorists who are in the area."
Regarding the abductees, he noted that "137 abductees are still being held in Gaza. We are conducting an intelligence situation assessment around the clock. The Shin Bet, Mossad and intelligence are coordinating with all relevant forces to bring operational opportunities, we will do everything to return them all.
"In the north, the launches continue to be attacked, an IDF vehicle was attacked and soldiers were injured. We are prepared in all sectors, also in the north. Tonight new instructions were issued in the home front, be updated, they save lives. This morning, the recruitment week for soldiers for armor and Givati began. Male and female soldiers have a decisive contribution to the successful victory of Israel."
"Watching around the clock to locate the Hamas leadership"
During the questioning phase, Hagari was asked if Sinwar is still in Khan Yunis and is there any information about senior Hamas officials who took advantage of the truce and fled the Strip? According to him, we are following around the clock to locate the senior Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip. The goal is to eliminate one by one.
In another question, he was asked about the attack carried out by the Houthis, what targets the Houthis are attacking and whether Israel will attack in Yemen. The IDF spokesman replied that "quite a few things happened in the Red Sea in the last few days, I checked with the American command."
He also noted that "today missiles were fired at two merchant ships with no connection to the State of Israel. One ship was significantly damaged and is in distress and in danger of sinking and the other suffered minor damage. This is an incident of subversion by the Houthis. Their means of warfare and methods are Iranian. It shows the subversion of Iran in the region and this is a global and regional problem and we need to see how the world responds. Freedom of navigation is becoming dangerous in this part of the world. We are following the threats to the State of Israel, gathering intelligence and we will respond in time and place."