IDF spokesman Brigadier General Daniel Hagari gave a review (Thursday) and referred to the release of the abductees in the outline reached between Israel and Hamas and the deployment of forces under the shadow of the ceasefire.
At the beginning of his remarks, the IDF spokesman referred to the abductees who are supposed to be released as part of the deal. "Today, a preliminary list of names of women and children who are supposed to be released was received in the last few hours. Officers arrived to inform the families of the return of their relatives."
"Don't spread unofficial information and don't spread rumours"
In his words, Brigadier General Hagari asked not to spread unsubstantiated information regarding the abductees. "These will be complex days, nothing is closed until it actually happens, and even during the process it changes all the time. Hamas is a cruel and merciless enemy. Ahead of us are difficult days of joy mixed with sadness. Hamas will try to use the truce days to create fear, spread disinformation and manipulate. We repeat and request - do not spread information that is not official and do not spread rumours."
Hagari later referred to the continuation of the fighting and the ceasefire. "The IDF continues to fight even at this time in the northern Gaza Strip. This is the first stage of the war and we are preparing for the next stages. In the coming days we will focus on planning for the next steps."
According to him: "Tomorrow with the ceasefire - our forces will be stationed inside Gaza City and they will move within the lines established in the agreement. The return of the abductees is in stages - the fighting is in stages. This is what the State of Israel has decided and this is what the IDF will carry out. We will destroy all the tunnels we uncovered, also under hospitals. All the terrorist infrastructure inside the Shifa Hospital will be destroyed. After that we will leave the hospital."
On the fear of terrorists returning to the northern Gaza Strip: "we are prepared for any eventuality"
Hagari was asked whether the ceasefire will also apply in the northern sector. According to the IDF spokesman, "We are preparing for any threat in the north. Any threat will be removed. There will not be a squad that will approach the State of Israel. We don't attack in Lebanon without a threat against us, unlike the terrorist organization Hezbollah that attacks us."
Another question that was asked was about the fear of terrorists returning to the northern Gaza Strip and what the IDF's response would be if it did materialize. According to Hagari, "According to the agreement, there is no expected movement. The IDF is prepared along this line in the Gaza Strip, and we are prepared for any eventuality."
The IDF spokesman was asked if the idea of an international police force after the fall of Hamas is an option that the army accepts. Hagari replied: "There are phases of the war. We are in the phase of disbanding Hamas and returning the abductees. After that will come the stages of regulating the borders. And then we'll get to the stage you said. This is a decision of the political echelon and the IDF will express its opinion in these discussions when they take place."
