Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari January 3rd, 20:40

Good evening.

Today, the Chief of the General Staff conducted a situational assessment at the northern border along with the head of the Northern Command and other commanders.

They presented to him the forces’ readiness in both defense and offense, the preparations moving forward, and they outlined the upcoming plans.

We are strongly prepared in the north and in all combat sectors. Today, we struck Hezbollah's terror infrastructure in the area of Levona in Lebanese territory with fighter jets. A tank crew identified a launching cell in Lebanese territory, and struck it before it could fire, killing the terrorists. We are in continual contact with local authorities and residents, reflecting the situational assessment to them and updating them in an organized manner.

There's no change in the Home Front Command instructions; we will continue to update the public, and I call on you to continue to be responsible and adhere to the instructions as you have done so far.
In Gaza, in Khan Yunis, our forces continue to operate underground. This operation takes time, both for our forces' safety and because we use classified and new methods. We do not want to reveal our combat methods to the enemy.

This operation will take time, and we will conduct it thoroughly in Khan Yunis until we reach all the necessary places. This fight is against terrorists, both underground and above ground. Even today, we killed terrorists in the area. We will continue to expand this operation.
In the central camps, we continue to strike. There is a significant operation there and terrorists are killed daily. This is alongside our forces locating and identifying production sites. These sites, where Hamas produces and assembles rockets, some are located underground with significant manufacturing machinery, including some from other countries, including Iran.

The production sites are being attacked and destroyed, as happened today. Our forces are dealing with the threat of explosives in Khan Yunis and other areas. Our forces are dealing with terrorists roaming the area, running towards our forces, or placing explosives in the streets or trying to attack tanks and armored personnel carriers. Today we identified a terrorist attempting to attach an explosive to a tank. Our forces directed an aircraft which struck him from the air, and three additional terrorists involved in the operation were also killed. Yesterday evening, international media outlets published that international intelligence agencies, specifically those in the U.S., support the findings we exposed from the Shifa Hospital.

I am stating this now, because it takes time, even for the world, to recognize the actions we have taken and for the deviating actions Hamas has taken, with their cynical use of hospitals. Based on these intelligence agencies, these actions by Hamas, are an indication of Hamas’ terror activity and how they cynically take advantage of hospitals for terror and also for holding hostages. We will continue to expose and destroy Hamas’ terror infrastructure in all of the Gaza Strip, with an emphasis on Khan Yunis, just as we did with the infrastructure in Shifa Hospital.

This evening we will also publish the destruction of this infrastructure, and show how it was carried out professionally without harming the vital infrastructure of the hospital.
Even this evening, we remember the hostages held in Gaza. We are in contact with their families, notifying them with every intelligence detail that arises. We will continue our intelligence and operational efforts and will continue to apply military pressure in order to bring them home.