Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi met with soldiers in the south today (Tuesday) and addressed the preparedness for the next phase of the war and the expected ground entry into the Gaza Strip. In his statement, he claimed that "Hamas is already regretting" the attack it carried out on October 7 and praised the soldiers who stopped the terrorists in the settlements.
"Hamas will regret this war; it regrets it already. Hundreds of Hamas terrorists have been killed thanks to the bravery of our soldiers," said the Chief of Staff. "We will never forget the children who were murdered, the women separated from their husbands, the acts of horror. We take these images with us forward into the battlefield, determined, and we will do it like warriors."
He further described the preparedness for a ground entry, stating, "The IDF and the Southern Command have planned quality attack plans to achieve the goals of the war. We have trained for it, we equipped ourselves with the best means, the most advanced in the world, but most importantly, we have the best soldiers for these missions. I want it to be clear - the IDF is prepared for a ground entry, and we will make a decision together with the political leadership on the nature of the next stage and its timing."
Levi also addressed the delay and waiting before the ground operation, stating, "We are conducting a war, and at this stage, there are tactical and strategic considerations that allow us more time to improve and use every minute to be even more prepared." According to him, "Every minute that passes, we strike the enemy harder, killing its operatives, commanders, destroying its infrastructure, and gathering more intelligence for the next stage. We keep the enemy in suspense, now he is the one who is waiting vigilantly."
Regarding the captives held by Hamas, he said, "Things, even when they may sound more pleasant, in each of these cases are harsh and cruel. We have seen this in the acts of murder and barbarity and the low moral standards. We recommend to Hamas to treat with respect the Israeli civilians under its control. It is essential, but we will not diminish the severity of our response to Hamas."
"The fighting will be long, and there will be things outside the borders of the state. We do not expect assistance from foreign soldiers. We are glad that other countries understand the need to fight Hamas," he concluded. "We are initiating, attacking, and will continue to do so. Hamas is hiding, seeking ways to survive. We lead and act in the best way. We have a plan that suits the capabilities of the IDF, which I won't disclose here. We are preparing for the next stage, ready to enter with strong forces. When they go in, they will do the job very well."
