Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari-May 23, 2024

Daniella, Karina, Liri, Agam, and Naama.

It is impossible to stand here tonight without addressing the video that the entire State of Israel and the world have seen.
Moments of terror and helplessness have resurfaced on screen since October 7th. We failed to protect you, your friends, and many soldiers and residents. We are responsible and committed to bringing you back home.
It is impossible not to look into your eyes and feel the burning terror and pain from the unimaginable cruelty of Hamas terrorists. It is also impossible not to be moved by your courage and resilience.
This video is a reminder of the moral duty, the moral imperative, to bring you and the other 123 hostages home as quickly as possible.
Your families decided to release the video and are doing everything they can to bring you back home soon. We will not rest until you return to us; we are fighting and will continue to fight to bring you and all the hostages back home as soon as possible.

I know the video raises difficult and pressing questions, foremost among them: How did this happen? It is our responsibility in the IDF to provide in-depth answers to these questions, first to the families and then to the public through the media.
On October 7th, the IDF failed in its defensive mission. Now, it is our responsibility to investigate thoroughly and correct our mistakes. This responsibility also means ensuring that there will never be another October 7th on any of our borders.

At this moment, three divisions are fighting in Gaza across all parts of the strip. In the northern Gaza Strip, the forces of the 98th Division continue their offensive against Hamas targets both above and below ground based on intelligence. In recent days, IDF special forces eliminated Hussein Fiad, the commander of Hamas's Beit Hanoun Battalion, in underground infrastructure. Fiad was responsible for anti-tank missile attacks against Israeli territory and our forces during the war. He was also responsible for launching mortar shells at communities in the northwestern Negev.
In the Beit Hanoun area, the Netzah Yehuda Battalion has been fighting in recent days, intensifying the effort against Hamas's attempts to operate from the area.
In the central Gaza Strip, the forces of the 99th Division are securing the corridor from which they conduct raids and initiate operations.
In the southern Gaza Strip, the forces of the 162nd Division continue their offensive against additional terrorist targets in Rafah. The forces have reached the Shabura area, from which Hamas terrorists are operating. So far, we have eliminated more than 180 terrorists in Rafah.
We have destroyed rockets and launchers that were ready to be fired at Israeli territory.
We have destroyed, and are also working to locate tunnel shafts and underground routes. The operation on the ground is intense and determined, with difficult battles in complex areas.

Unfortunately, there are also heavy prices to pay. There are casualties and wounded. We embrace the bereaved families in this difficult time and will continue to support them.

In the north, we continue to target Hezbollah terrorists responsible for the terror in southern Lebanon. This morning, an Israeli Air Force aircraft struck and eliminated Muhammad Ali Nasser Faran, who was responsible for Hezbollah's weapons manufacturing and procurement in southern Lebanon. Faran had been involved in recent years in the production of weapons intended for use against Israeli citizens. He joins a list of senior officials and field commanders of the organization that we have eliminated in recent weeks. We will continue to strike against the terrorism that Hezbollah directs at Israeli territory.

In the Central Command, IDF forces, ISA, and Border Police completed a counterterrorism operation in Jenin this morning that lasted over forty hours. During the operation, approximately twenty terrorist infrastructures were destroyed, including an explosive device laboratory and dozens of weapons. This operation adds to dozens of preemptive and offensive operations to thwart terrorism in Judea and Samaria.