On the 18th day of the war, IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari issued an evening statement to the media summarizing the day's events in the ongoing war throughout Israel.
At the beginning of his remarks, Brig. Gen. Hagai referred to the attempted infiltration of terrorists in Zikim and stated that "A naval force identified a squad of Hamas operatives entering from a tunnel into the sea with the intention of infiltrating into Israeli territory, and the force eliminated the squad."
He also addressed the situation in the Gaza Strip, saying, "The IDF continues to strike and target the military and administrative infrastructure of Hamas. The terrorists hide inside houses and tunnels beneath residential buildings. He once again calls on the residents of Gaza to move south to the Gaza River." The spokesperson emphasized that "Fuel will not enter the Gaza Strip; Hamas needs it for its operational infrastructure. They have fuel, and they can supply it to the hospitals."
Revealing the recording between the terrorist and his family: We must show the world the madness
Tonight, a recording was published in which a Hamas terrorist boasts about his actions in the massacre to his family members. "We debate whether to publish every recording like this or not," said Hagari, "but there's no choice; we must show the world the madness and horror that Hamas terrorists have perpetrated and the war we are waging against the people who carried out this horror. We will continue to expose the atrocities to the world while we mourn the victims and their families."
Regarding the northern front, the spokesperson stated, "Hezbollah has decided to engage in a war that is not related to Lebanon, but rather to Hamas-ISIS. If they continue, they will pay a high price with their people."
On Yocheved Lifshitz's interview: No one can step into her shoes
IDF Spokesperson commented on the media storm following the press conference of the released captive, Yocheved Lifshitz. He stated, "None of us can put themselves in her shoes, and it's impossible to even begin to comprehend what she went through. An older woman who was brutally kidnapped from her bed in a kibbutz. Transferred to Gaza with other captives. I wish her good health and a recovery from all she's been through. The IDF will do everything it can to bring Oded home as well."
"Oded is still held there, and I know she is worried about him. We will do everything to bring our people back home, but we will not forget that Hamas committed this massacre, and at this moment, there are infants, children, men, and women held hostage in the hands of Hamas. This is a crime against humanity, and nothing else. Israel will not allow the world to forget this crime."
