Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Minister Benny Gantz entered the city of Beit Hanoun in the north of the Gaza Strip, where they conducted an observation and situational assessment with commander of the northern Gaza brigade, Col. Haim Cohen. Later on, they spoke with soldiers of the 969th reserve battalion, commanded by Lt.-Col. (res.) Tal Borstein.
Gallant told the soldiers that “every house that’s fired from and every place that has terrorism needs to be taken down, so the residents of Sderot here behind you, and in other sectors, can go home quietly, and know there is no threatening infrastructure.”
"What you are doing is reflected in all Gaza,” Gallant said. “I am sure Sinwar is sitting in his bunker and watching television, then he also sees how Beit Hanoun and Shejaiya looks like. And this is also true of the Hamas battalion commander fighting our forces in Khan Yunis. He understands how the story of the Beit Hanoun battalion ended. This picture creates order in the whole area.”
“There needs to be a cost for those who fight the State of Israel and conducts a brutal murder of civilians, women and children – we are eliminating them. This is not some small matter, but something existential in terms of the approach. This radiates on our surroundings because everyone has Google Maps and can copy-paste from Gaza and see what happens in Beirut. And this also has an effect.”
Minister Gantz: “I am sure Nasrallah is looking at what’s happening here”
Minister Gantz told the soldiers: “I want to thank you in the name of all Israeli citizens. This is one of the more important campaigns which the State of Israel experienced, it serves the residents of the south and also radiates to other arenas. I am sure Nasrallah is looking at what is happening here and doesn’t want it by him.”
Minister Gallant ended by saying “take care of yourselves, continue to do the job. And we together, also Benny, also me, and also all the members of the cabinet are united in providing backing to the reserve forces. This will be expressed soon, both in the economic aspect and also other matters. Because in the end, if there were those who had questions two-three months ago if we need such a large reserve force, I think that today they have no such questions, anywhere in the country.”