Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari December 8th, 20:15

Good evening and Shabbat shalom.

Tonight, during an operation in the Gaza Strip to rescue hostages from Hamas, two IDF soldiers were seriously injured. The forces raided a Hamas hideout and eliminated terrorists involved in the kidnapping and holding of the hostages. The families of the injured soldiers have been notified. We did not rescue any hostages in this operation. We will continue to act through various avenues - both operational and intelligence avenues, together with the ISA. We will do everything to bring all the hostages home and to obtain information about them. IDF representatives are in constant communication with the families of the hostages and update them with all the reliable information available regarding their loved ones.

The current stage of fighting involves intense fighting on the ground. Our forces are operating in the heart of Hamas' strongholds, simultaneously operating in both the south and the north of the Gaza Strip - in Jabalya, Shuja'iyya, and in the Khan Yunis area. The forces are operating professionally and courageously in complex areas that are laden with many explosives. We are conducting fierce battles with Hamas terrorists that are hiding underground but are emerging from the tunnels due to our forces' operations, leading to battles and to the killing of terrorists.

We are eliminating many terrorists, and increasingly are seeing terrorists who surrender during battle and turn themselves over to our forces. In the last 48 hours, we apprehended more than two hundred suspects, dozens of whom were transferred to the 504 Unit of the Intelligence Corps and to the ISA for investigation in Israel. Amongst the suspects transferred for investigation are Hamas commanders and Nukhba terrorists. Their investigation assists the continued operations of the forces in the field.

In the north, early this morning, we eliminated a terrorist cell in the Har Dov area. An observation soldier identified an armed terrorist cell and directed a UAV which successfully struck the cell. Throughout the day, we struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanese territory and responded with fire to locations from which shots were fired into our territory. Earlier, shots were fired towards an IDF position.

This evening, the ninth sabbath of the war and the second candle of Hanukkah - IDF soldiers fighting in Gaza and defending its borders will observe the sabbath in the operational field. They are fighting bravely and courageously in Gaza and defending all of our borders so that we can live here with security. I want to wish all IDF soldiers in the field a peaceful Shabbat and a happy holiday.