Defense Minister Yoav Gallant came to visit and assess the situation at the headquarters responsible for the forces operating at the Shifa Hospital in Gaza, praised the fighting forces and explained that this is a very significant operation. Gallant added and announced during his visit that the fighting is entering a new phase, and now the most significant ground maneuver of the fighting so far will probably begin.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant a short time ago held a situation assessment in Division 36, the division responsible for coordinating the operations and the forces currently operating within the Shifa Hospital compound. During the visit he received an overview of the progress of the forces in the field with an emphasis on the activity being carried out in the hospital complex.
Gallant visited the headquarters, which is located in Israeli territory and remotely manages the special and sensitive operation taking place in the Shifa Hospital area. Gallant received an overview of the development of the fighting in the area and the operation within the hospital complex, and was exposed to details and testimonies that were discovered as part of the operation.
Beyond that, Gallant stated that now the fighting is expected to enter a new, more intense phase. "In the last day we completed the occupation and purification of the entire western part of Gaza City. The next phase has begun - the forces are acting precisely, resolutely, decisively, with a very high coordination between the air, sea, and land forces, accompanied by a very strong and enveloping intelligence."
Beyond that, Gallant addressed the rumors about a deal for the release of the abductees and explained, "the more we deepen this operation, increase the pressure on Hamas, erode more headquarters, damage more tunnels, eliminate more activists, and bring down more heads of organizations, the greater the chance of returning our abductees, because this enemy understands only force and we explain to him very well what force is."
