IDF Chief of Staff: "We must not give up any of the war aims"

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi conducted a situational assessment in the central Gaza Strip yesterday (Tuesday), where he said "we must not give up on any of our war aims."

He also said that "the IDF continues to defeat the military arm of Hamas and is doing everything to bring the hostages back alive. Every hostage we bring back alive now will have many more years to live, and every terrorist will ultimately be eliminated."

This may be a hint at support for a hostage deal now, with the idea that any terrorists released will end up dead, regardless, though Halevi's wording leaves this vague.

Meanwhile, the 401st Brigade's combat team has been operating in the Tel Sultan neighborhood of Rafah for the past few weeks, eliminating terrorists and seizing multiple weapons caches.

The forces eliminated more than 200 terrorists and seized weapons caches hidden in civilian areas, including one in a basement where terrorists were holed up - and eliminated.