Posted on 05/23/24
| News Source: i24
IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari announced Thursday the continuation of a targeted military operation in Rafah, Gaza, aimed at liberating hostages held by Hamas.
In an English-language video statement, Hagari emphasized the precision and necessity of the operation to combat Hamas and bring home Israeli hostages.
"Those who may have forgotten how savage and barbaric Hamas is have received a chilling reminder when they saw the horrifying footage of our girls being held in captivity," Hagari stated, referring to a recent video showing the abduction of five female soldiers from the Nahal Oz base during the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.
"Those young girls need to come back home. They need to come back home to their families. We must do everything to fulfill our critical mission of bringing all our hostages home and ensuring an enduring defeat of Hamas."
Hagari explained that Hamas is holding hostages in Rafah, necessitating the IDF's operations in the area. "We’re going after Hamas. We’re going to release our hostages from Hamas," he said.
He stressed that the IDF is executing the operation in a "targeted and precise way," aiming to minimize harm to Gazan civilians despite Hamas embedding itself in civilian areas.
The IDF, according to Hagari, has extensive experience in conducting precise operations and targeted raids based on accurate intelligence. He assured that the IDF remains committed to operating in accordance with international law and is continuously refining its operations to protect civilians while targeting Hamas infrastructure.