Israeli Chief of Staff Halevi on Gaza: 'We are far from stopping'

Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi held a press conference regarding Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Stating that the 6th month of the war has passed, Halevi said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would know how to return to fighting in the event of a ceasefire as part of a hostage deal, and that the return of the hostages is a more urgent matter than other objectives.

"We are conducting this war differently from previous ones. The war in Gaza is ongoing, and we are far from stopping," Halevi said, emphasizing that they would find senior Hamas officials sooner or later. Stating that they have also allowed humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip alongside the attacks, Halevi said, "It is in Hamas's interest to create a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to pressure for an end to the war. Hamas is trying to take control of humanitarian aid and prevent its distribution; they want to return to the Gaza Strip and control it, and this should not happen. We continue to strip Hamas of its military and governmental capabilities to bring stability to the region."

"TO BRING ALL HOSTAGES BACK..."

Touching upon the hostages held in the Gaza Strip, Halevi said, "We will continue to act in every way. We will continue our intelligence and operational efforts to bring all the hostages back as soon as possible." Stating that hostage deal negotiations must be conducted responsibly and carefully, Halevi said, "The IDF is strong enough to know what price the State of Israel will pay for the return of its children. We have a moral duty toward them, and the IDF will also know how to endure even a difficult price, how to return, and how to fight with strength."

"WE HAVE NOT REACHED THE GOAL OF ELIMINATING HAMAS FROM GAZA"

Noting that they knew from the beginning that this war would take a long time to achieve their goals, Halevi said, "We have achieved very significant successes in the war in Gaza. However, we have not yet fully reached the goals of having all hostages return to their homes, having all residents in the north and south return to their homes in safety, and the elimination of Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip in a way that would allow for a non-Hamas government in the Gaza Strip."

Emphasizing that one should not be a dreamer, Halevi said, "We are conducting the war with responsibility and determination. As we have said, some goals will take a long time, and we will not give up until we reach them. While the return of the hostages is important and urgent, its timing is also different from the timing of other goals."

News Source: İHA