Hagari: Hamas Terrorists Will Not Be Protected Underground

IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari addressed the release of footage today (Thursday) showing an IDF operation eliminating Hamas terrorists in tunnels.

According to Rear Admiral Hagari, “the soldiers buried explosive means in an underground tunnel, we identified the terrorists by camera and eliminated them. Hamas terrorists and mostly their leaders choose to hide under the ground. This is the Hamas method, hiding with a human shield above them.”

He added that “we have new combat methods which we will use and kill terrorists. We will bury explosives where terrorists are running around, wait for the right moment, and kill them under the ground. They won’t be protected under the ground.”

Later on, he addressed the Golani soldiers who lost ten of their men three days ago. “The brigade continues to eliminate terrorists and fight heroically. Their goal was to allow the residents of the Perimeter to return to their homes. Even today, dozens of terrorists continue to turn themselves into IDF soldiers. We have many more targets and will have difficult battles.”

The IDF Spokesperson noted the fronts in the north and Judea and Samaria, as well. “In the north we cut down a series of Hezbollah targets and killed terrorists, so in Judea and Samaria, as well. We continued an operation which was conducted within 60 days today.”

Regarding the irregular footage of IDF soldiers playing Shema Yisrael at a Jenin mosque, Hagari said that “IDF soldiers are required to act professionally according to the Spirit of the IDF and most soldiers do. We will not give up on the path of the IDF. Those who do not act based on IDF values, will have steps taken against them accordingly.”

At question time, Hagari was asked whether the army is flooding the tunnels and how they could be careful to avoid harming the hostages. Hagari responded that “in our operational activity, we also rely on intelligence which also deals with the hostages. We know as much as possible on the location of the hostages and are working in a variety of ways to protect the well-being of the hostages.”

Hagari was also asked about the supplementary budget passed today by the Knesset and the fact that soldiers were not getting a raise. Hagari wished not to answer but did say “I will only say that they are important to us and we have no other thing to lean on aside from the reserve soldiers. It is clear to us in the IDF that we need to compensate them. We will make sure to go before the government and do what we can so that reservists are compensated.”