Statement by the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, January 13, 2024

Full statement: "Today, we approved plans for the Southern Command to continue combat and to increase military pressure on Hamas. Pressure that will lead to the dismantling of Hamas and the return of the hostages. This pressure, and only it, has succeeded in returning many hostages.

Tomorrow we will mark a hundred days since the beginning of the war. A hundred days in which the hostages are still held in Gaza by the cruel Hamas terrorists. We are operating by all means, most of them covertly, in order to return them and we will continue to do so until we return them all. This task has not yet been completed. I know that every minute has critical significance and we are not indifferent to this. Time is pressing for the return of the hostages and we do not forget for a moment and do not abandon this noble goal.

To achieve real results, we must continue to operate in enemy territory, not to allow extortion attempts for a ceasefire that seemingly will not bring about real results. We must continue applying pressure and that is exactly what we are doing.

The Hamas leadership pins its hopes on a ceasefire, and is convinced that this moment is near. For the extremely just goals, we are determined and persistent. These goals are complex to achieve and will take a long time - we said this from the first moment. To dismantle Hamas, patience is both necessary and essential.

Today, four combat divisions are operating in Gaza. The forces are advancing in the field according to plan, and adapting their operational methods to the tasks, the terrain, and the enemy.

We completed the dismantling of Hamas' military frameworks in the northern Strip, and now the forces are embarking on missions to deepen and maintain the achievement in this area. There are still terrorists there, there is a little infrastructure, we will continue to strike, pursue and destroy.

We have moved the focus of our efforts to the center and south of the Strip, where we exposed, including today, weapons manufacturing facilities above and below ground, including missiles intended for the Israeli home front, a real military industry. Destroying these, is very important to prevent future strengthening, and it is important to understand, without maneuvering in the field, it would not have been possible to do this. The forces are thoroughly and methodically dismantling infrastructure, and at the same time, the forces continue to eliminate terrorists from the air, sea, and in brave face-to-face combat on the ground in a very complex area.

As part of the advancement of the combat, we released some of the reserve forces, whose mobilization is worthy of praise from the entire state. You, dear reservists, are an exemplary group in Israeli society. We of course will also need you in 2024.

We will do this within a sufficient time for preparation, alongside recognition and appropriate compensation – for you and no less importantly for your families, who have looked after the homes throughout this period.

We are managing combat in several arenas simultaneously, with varying intensity. We are operating everywhere. There will be no immunity for those seeking to kill us: not in Gaza, not in Judea and Samaria, and also not in other arenas throughout the Middle East.

Hezbollah has chosen to serve as "Hamas' shield" on behalf of Iran, and increasingly, we are exacting a price from it. Whoever conditions the end to the friction in the north on an end to the combat in the Gaza Strip will pay increasing prices. This was and will be the case going forward. The security reality in the north is already being shaped during these days. We are pushing Radwan terrorists away from the border and hitting Hezbollah's capabilities that it has built up over the years. We are operating freely in Lebanese airspace and strike any threat we identify. The area of southern Lebanon is a combat zone, and it will remain so, as long as Hezbollah operates from it. Hezbollah risks turning the entire state of Lebanon into a combat zone, at a heavy price.

We are prepared for war, even today, and are constantly improving our capabilities. We are committed to changing the security situation in such a way that will allow the residents to return safely to their homes – in the north and in the south.

In Judea and Samaria, we operate around the clock in the communities and along the axes. During the war, we conducted an unprecedented number of offensive activities and apprehended terrorists, some of which were on their way to commit terror attacks. Together with the communities, we examine every incident and strengthen their defense. Just last night, in the community of Adora, there was an attempted terror attack, a combination of the communities’ forces, with the military forces, alertness and decisive actions, led to a result in which three terrorists were killed without reaching the civilians, and more importantly, without civilians being harmed, and we wish a speedy recovery to one soldier who was injured.

An honest examination is part of the army’s DNA. We are constantly examining. This is how it is in the IDF, this is our way of learning and improving. The IDF is responsible for the security of the state and is committed to improving and adapting itself to combat needs.
 
Operational examination, of course, does not replace external examination or review. We understand that the war will continue for a long time, and therefore we have begun to plan the structure of the examinations. We must learn also during this war, with the fighting always remaining as the first priority - we will not harm it, after all, we are the ones who carry it out. We have not yet determined when we will start examining, but we have determined that we will examine the events that led to the outbreak of the war and the events of October 7 as soon as possible. We must begin by understanding what happened, to better protect the residents of the communities near the Gaza Strip and to ensure that this day does not repeat itself. In order to know how to return them to their homes in greater security. The IDF of course is subject to the political echelon and respects it. It is right and proper to ask us questions and to criticize us. We listen and learn from every statement, but the decision regarding the examination is an operational requirement and an internal decision, and it is not a policy decision. The IDF wants and needs to be better. I am convinced that everyone understands and identifies with this desire.
 
These days, it is important to remember, we are fighting an unparalleled just war, a war that a murderous enemy began, when it slaughtered innocents in an inhuman way. We do not forget and will not forget, and will continue to remind even those who try to deny it. We are fighting for our right to live here in security. The IDF fights professionally while operating according to its values and according to the principles of international law. The IDF, with all its soldiers and commanders, is focused entirely on the objectives of the war; we will continue to fight until they are achieved."