After the release of the hostages, a four-day pause and its extension for two more days, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Hui issued a special statement: "Seventy-six abductees have so far been returned to their homes. Children, girls, women and civilians, soldiers and soldiers, who were kidnapped by Hamas, a cruel, ruthless terrorist organization, and not all of them have returned yet. Anyone who returns is a great relief, but there is not a drop of relief that there are fewer left. We will work to bring everyone back."
"We will work to bring everyone back", Herzi Halevi, photo: IDF Spokesperson
"The return of the abductees is a bright spot for all of us. It is also further evidence of the results of significant military pressure and high-quality ground maneuvers, which created the conditions for the return of our citizens home. We will continue to do so."
"The IDF is ready today to continue fighting. We use the days of respite as part of the outline to learn, strengthen preparedness, and approve operational plans for the future. In recent days I have met commanders and fighters who left the Gaza Strip, after fighting with courage, determination and daring. I told them, "You have made many achievements, thanks to you, abductees are returning home, and we have many more challenges ahead."
"Taking advantage of the pause for learning", an IDF tank in the heart of the Gaza Strip, photo: IDF Spokesperson
Regarding the continuation of the fighting, he said, "We want to fight until we return the last of the hostages. We are preparing for the continuation of the fighting to dismantle Hamas. It will take time, these are complex goals, but there is no justification for them."
Regarding the fighting in the north, he said, "Today we are in the north of the country, and from here I want to address the residents of the north, the residents of the north have been evacuated from their homes for some time – I know how difficult the situation is, I know how uncomfortable the situation is, and mainly wrapped in uncertainty.
This morning, earlier, I met with the heads of municipalities in the north, and I was very impressed by their leadership during this complex period. Together we will ensure that the residents of the north return to a different, better and more stable security reality."
"Fighting in a densely populated and complex area", photo: IDF Spokesperson
Regarding the ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip, he said, "The IDF embarked on a maneuver in Gaza, a very crowded and complex area, in order to achieve a worthy and necessary goal. We will know, if necessary, to employ all these strengths in the north as well, in order to return you, the residents of the north, safely to the communities, cities and this beautiful and important region."
In recent weeks, in the north, in the center, in the south, and inside the Gaza Strip, I have met our dear reservists. Almost eight weeks, since they left their lives abruptly, and came to defend their home, to defend the country. It deserves deep public appreciation."
Halevy also addressed claims that there were warnings about the surprise attack: "In recent days there has been a discourse about the conduct of the IDF and the Intelligence Directorate before the events of October 7. Given the dire consequences, the matter is self-evident. We will be held accountable. We will listen attentively to each and every one of our subordinates and learn both what they thought and what they said. The IDF, including the Intelligence Directorate, failed in the events of the October 7th. There will be deep and incisive investigations, but now we must focus on the fighting."
"IDF commanders, especially members of Military Intelligence and Southern Command, are currently busy fighting.
Military Intelligence personnel work night and day to accompany IDF fighters in the fighting in Gaza, to warn them and signal the enemy to them. I have to say they do it summa laude.
They also work against the most important of the missions – intelligence about the abductees. Their work has already led to successes that it is too early to talk about, and the mission, as we all know, has not yet been completed."
"It's not right for IDF commanders to be busy discussing responsibility for one or the other – I need them working together in the face of the many and complex tasks they face. I have yet to meet a single IDF commander since the beginning of this war, for whom I have not seen a heavy sense of responsibility. At the moment everything is dedicated to fighting. We will not stop until we restore security to the State of Israel."
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