IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari made a statement to the media this evening (Wednesday), in which he referred to today's events in the war in the Gaza Strip. In his words, he referred to the expansion of fighting in the Gaza Strip and the takeover of the Senior Quarter in Gaza.
"The IDF forces are deepening the fighting, and have also moved into fighting in Darj Tofah, which is in front of the Gaza Strip settlements near Shejaiya. This is part of our fight against terrorism against these elements, and we will make sure that the security situation there will be different, so that the soldiers can return to live there when the time comes."
"Today we revealed that IDF forces are operating in the senior Hamas quarter in Gaza City, where the institutions of the political and military leadership of Hamas are concentrated. The space was used as a cover for the terrorist operations that were set up in civilian buildings. In the action of the ground forces, we uncovered a branched network of underground strategic infrastructures that were used by Haniyeh, Deif and Sinwar - routinely, in war and on October 7. From these infrastructures they could pass and deploy in the Strip. From there they could go to Shifa Hospital, return south and enter the network to go north."
According to him, "The main reason that the infrastructure and the entrance to Shifa troubled the senior Hamas officials is not because they were hiding there, but because they used this infrastructure to conduct the fighting in Gaza City. What allowed them to conduct the war against the IDF is this infrastructure, and when it is dropped from them - they get weaker. The destruction of the battalions in the area and the dismantling of the infrastructure is so that in the future there will not be such a terrorist infrastructure and war, attacks and planning against us.
"Thus we have completed the exposure of the underground city of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. We will neutralize it and destroy its strategic institutions - also in the south of the Gaza Strip. We will reach the underground hideouts of senior Hamas officials in the Khan Yunis area. In recent days we have added another brigade and more engineering to drill, locate and fight the underground infrastructure In Khan Yunis. This is a complex operation that takes time, both because of the security of our forces and because of the destruction process - but we are determined to do it as long as it takes. The ground operation and airstrikes will continue throughout the Gaza Strip. We attacked commanders in Rafah, and we will continue to pursue every Hamas leader wherever he is."
"We will present the findings of the investigation to the families, including the video"
He also referred to the findings of the investigation of the incident in which the 3 abductees were shot to death: "Yesterday we located a video from a camera of an Oketz unit dog, which recorded the voices of the abductees before they were killed. This occurred during a battle in which a Golani patrol force entered the fighting in a built complex, and terrorists shoot the dog. When we analyze the film we understand that we heard the abductees, and that they were in this building where the disaster happened. After an initial investigation, we estimate that the terrorists who held the abductees were eliminated, and that is why they were able to escape until that terrible tragedy.
"The commander of the Southern Command presented an investigation of the incident, and the Chief of Staff ordered the investigation be completed. When it is finalized it will be presented to the families along with the materials, including the video. We owe them the investigative presentation, and that's what will happen. After the families see it, we will present it to the media, and thus we will honor their memory. We have the responsibility to study the incident to make sure that something like this does not repeat itself, and to create operational opportunities in the ground operation that will lead to the return of abductees."
