Defense Minister Yoav Gallant conducted a situational assessment in Khan Yunis with soldiers in the field, talking to both enlisted men and reservists. The assessment included Deputy CoS Maj.-Gen. Amir Baram, 98th Division commander Brig.-Gen. Dan Goldfus, the 646th Brigade Commander, and other officers. The minister was presented with the war efforts above and below ground in the Khan Yunis area and the serious blows dealt the Hamas battalions in the area.
The Defense Minister told the soldiers that “The operation in the Khan Yunis area is advancing with impressive results. The (Hamas) Khan Yunis brigade took pride in being able to stand against the IDF, it is collapsed and I tell you here – we are completing the mission in Khan Yunis and we will also reach Rafah and we will eliminate anyone there who is a terrorist trying to harm us.”
“I want to tell you something else: the operational activity you are doing here in the field, which strives towards the enemy targets underground and above ground – this activity brings the return of the hostages closer because Hamas understands force and when you pressure them, when you sit on their neck, they come and talks to you.”
“We will continue this activity and in this respect your actions, your deeds, and your fighting are a hundred times more important than all the surrounding talk. Your activity brings the results, that’s the main thing – also achieving the elimination of the enemy and also bringing to a point where at every given moment he asks himself – when do I stop. And he stops when it’s hard for him.”
“This is a battle of national determination. We need to continue until we complete our missions. And it’s much harder for Hamas, believe me. They don’t have weapons, they don’t have ammunition, they can’t treat the wounded, they have 10,000 dead terrorists and another 10,000 wounded who aren’t functioning. This is a blow which is undermining their capability, but we need to reach all the places and you see things underground, above ground – there are very impressive things here.”
