Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson, BG Effie Defrin-June 3, 2025

Good evening, 

IDF troops have been operating over the past month as a part of Operation “Gideon’s Chariots”.

Today, we mourn three combat soldiers from the Givati Brigad who fell in combat: Staff Sergeant Lior Steinberg, Staff Sergeant Ofek Barhana, and Staff Sergeant Omer Van Gelder, may their memory be a blessing.

The three soldiers fell in battle yesterday in the Jabaliya area in the northern Gaza Strip. 

May their memory be a blessing.

We share in the families’ grief during these difficult times and will continue to support them.

During operational activity in the Kfar Jabalia area last night, troops traveling in a Hummer vehicle were hit by an explosive device planted by terrorists.

The terrorists emerged from a tunnel shaft within a building and planted an explosive device setup.

The tunnel shaft shown on screen served as the terrorists’ exit point. They used it to plant the explosive and carry out the attack.

This is an active tunnel used for terrorism.

The opening to the tunnel is located inside a destroyed building near the route, and therefore it's important to clarify — this building is a military target, like tens of thousands of other structures in the Gaza Strip that are used for terrorist purposes.
Our troops are operating and clearing the area. Nearly every other house is booby-trapped or contains a tunnel shaft.

We are dismantling these buildings not for the sake of destruction — every such structure poses an operational threat and could harm our troops.

Over the holiday of Shavuot, IDF troops in the Southern Command expanded the operation in Gaza to additional areas.
We are holding territory and clearing it of terrorist infrastructure and operatives.
We are in the midst of a wide-scale operation, both above and below ground.

Since the renewal of the operation and throughout Operation “Gideon’s Chariots,” we have eliminated hundreds of terrorists and struck numerous terrorist targets across the Gaza Strip.

I want to emphasize once again — we are operating according to a structured plan aimed at bringing home the hostages and dismantling Hamas’s governing and military capabilities.

As can be seen in the map currently displayed, five divisions continue to operate in the Gaza Strip — including both mandatory and reserve brigades — all are on the ground, all are operating, and all are fighting.

The fighting is progressing in accordance with the current phase of the operation.
The troops are focused on thoroughly clearing the area, holding it, and preventing Hamas from reestablishing itself in locations that have already been cleared.

Last week, we confirmed the elimination of the mass-murderer, Mohammad Sinwar and additional terrorists.

The blood of thousands of Israeli civilians is on his hands.

Like other Hamas leaders, Sinwar was eliminated while deliberately hiding beneath a hospital in the heart of the civilian population.

We will continue to pursue Hamas leaders wherever they are—inside Gaza and beyond.

Alongside the ongoing military pressure we are exerting on Hamas, its grip on governance is steadily cracking and deteriorating.

This week, dedicated sites were opened in southern Gaza for the distribution of humanitarian aid.
This method of food distribution severely undermines Hamas, separates the population from Hamas, and weakens its control.

Tens of thousands of food packages are distributed daily by an American civilian company directly to residents.

In addition, over 400 trucks have been waiting this past week on the Gazan side of the Kerem Shalom crossing, ready for collection and distribution.
The IDF and the State of Israel are doing what is required. From here, the responsibility for distribution lies with the UN.
We are operating near the new distribution areas and doing everything necessary to ensure food is distributed in an orderly manner and does not reach the hands of Hamas.

The initiative is proving itself and succeeding. Gaza residents are coming to the distribution centers. They understand that Hamas is not the one who cares for them—on the contrary, Hamas is trying to prevent them from receiving aid. Hamas recognizes the threat and is responding with violence.

They are attempting to disrupt the arrival of aid to Gaza residents, and in recent days, armed operatives have been seen firing at civilians on their way to collect humanitarian assistance.
In southern Khan Yunis, masked gunmen opened direct and deliberate fire at close range and threw stones at civilians attempting to collect aid.

Hamas is losing control over the population. They continue their familiar pattern of oppression against their own people through terror, violence, and killing.

Hamas spreads false information, which is unfortunately echoed by parts of the international media without any verification.

This week, it was claimed that the IDF fired at civilians in the vicinity of the aid distribution area.

This is a completely false claim that amplifies the propaganda of the Hamas terrorist organization.

The Chief of the General Staff personally examined the incident with the commanders on the ground to uncover the truth.

Earlier today, IDF troops fired warning shots approximately half a kilometer from the distribution area toward suspects who were approaching in a manner that endangered the troops’ safety.
That incident is also being examined, and we will get to the bottom of it.

We do not prevent Gaza residents from reaching the aid distribution centers.
On the contrary, we are enabling access.
Hamas is the one preventing it.

I am aware of the criticism regarding the amount of time it takes to examine incidents, but we will not report information or details that are untrue.

Credibility is critical—even when it takes time.

I will not report half-truths.

We owe the truth in our reports, first and foremost to our soldiers.

In this case, it's the troops of the 179th Reservist Brigade, who have once again answered the call of duty and whom I met on the ground.

The brigade commander, COL Y., is leading his troops on the front line—while his wife is currently in labor as I speak.

This is the spirit our reservists have been embodying since the beginning of the war—showing up despite all the hardships.

Hamas will pay a price for its refusal.

As instructed by the Chief of the General Staff, we are continuing and expanding the operation. We will expand the operation into additional areas—both in the south and in the north of the Gaza Strip. We will continue to operate until the conditions are met for the return of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas.

The IDF is prepared and active on all fronts,

on the defense and the offense,

thwarting terrorist activities, eliminating terrorists,

and operating relentlessly to ensure the security of the civilians of the State of Israel.

That’s all for now,

questions?

 

Download: