Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari November 22nd, 20:15

Good evening, 

We are preparing to conclude the first stage of the framework to return the hostages. The IDF, in cooperation with all of the relevant bodies, are operating an organized process for receiving the hostages. Over recent days, the relevant headquarters in the Manpower Directorate and the Intelligence Branch have completed their preparations for this framework. During these hours, we are continuing our preparations to implement this framework. We have the obligation to do everything, everything, to return the hostages, the elderly, the women, the men and of course the children, our children. To return them all to their home. This is a complicated process which is not yet complete – it will take time and will be executed in a number of stages. I wish to emphasise, It is not yet finalized and it may yet take time until it is finalized. Our guiding principle has been and will remain to first notify the families of the hostages and then notify the public. 

The coming days will be characterized by moments of relief and by moments of pain. They may include attempts to inflict psychological terror against us by the terror organizations. Please avoid spreading rumors and also avoid spreading unverified information. We are dealing with extremely sensitive matters. Listen only to notifications from official bodies. We will make sure we update you with the most reliable information. After we ensure the information is verified, we will update you with the most reliable information.

The Chief of the General Staff held a situational assessment today at the Southern Command and approved the battle plans in their relevant stages moving forward, with an emphasis on preparations for the upcoming days. The Chief of the General Staff met with the combat forces and talked to the operational brigade commanders. We held a situational assessment via telephone, with every brigade commander, speaking from their relevant headquarters. Every brigade commander [and] every division commander, spoke to the Chief of the General Staff. The operational lessons were shared. They spoke about the safety of the forces, they spoke of the operational preparedness and they discussed how we are to advance in battle to fulfil the war objectives.

There is much fighting ahead of us and we are determined to fulfil the war objectives as they were defined: dismantling Hamas’ capabilities and creating the conditions for the return of the hostages.

This evening we are exposing new footage of the underground terror infrastructure underneath the Shifa Hospital. We discovered an extensive amount of infrastructure, not only underneath the Shifa Hospital compound, but also, right underneath it, going from the hospital, into various streets and entering into different central buildings. From the Shifa Hospital, outward. What we exposed today is in fact underground war rooms, infrastructure built as a hiding place from which Hamas terrorists operate.

Nearby the hospital compound, we exposed two further tunnel shafts that most likely connect the hospital's underground terror infrastructure to the street. From underneath the hospital to nearby buildings. One of them, that I entered, is an educational institute with classrooms. Inside this apartment were classrooms, a board, on the board were words in English, an English lesson for children. On the side, a tunnel shaft, with a floor that in a disguised manner flows into the wall, and from there, you can go down steps into a tunnel that leads to the Shifa Hospital and continues northward of the hospital. Inside the tunnel are central command and control rooms. Terrorists enter the hospitals, exit through an educational institution, near children, using them as a human shield.

Today we exposed this to the world, we will continue to expose and to break it down. Our forces continue to operate in the area until we have destroyed the entire terror tunnel infrastructure. Through this operation, and this is why Hamas has begun to get stressed, we have located Hamas’ sensitive nervous system and tunnel infrastructure with significant command and control capabilities. This is Hamas’ main means of managing its terror forces through its tunnels. This is a strategic asset of Hamas’ and we will destroy it.

On the Home Front, I request that the public continue to be vigilant and to listen to the updating instructions of the Home Front Command. At no point can we become complacent. Even if there are different instructions in the upcoming days, do not become complacent.

So far, we have notified the families of 392 IDF fallen soldiers that fell in battles in defense of the State of Israel. We accompany the families and strengthen them. May their memories be a blessing.

I will now change into English. It is important for me to speak in English and to present messages in English - regarding both the hostages and the Shifa Hospital.

Israel is at war with Hamas. This is a war that we did not start and we did not seek. An operational pause for release of hostages does not change [this]. Israel is still at war with Hamas and we are committed [to] achieving our goals: to defeat Hamas and bring all our hostages home. I repeat: bring all our hostages home. Our hearts are with [the] families of [the] hostages being held by Hamas. It’s hard to imagine what they are going through and they await news about their sons, daughters, parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, children and babies, babies!

The Hamas massacre of October 7th was a genocidal attack. Hamas terrorists took over 240 men, women, children and babies, babies hostage. We will never forget what happened on October 7th and we will not lose sight of our responsibility, our duty, to bring all of our hostages home. The Israel Defense Forces will continue operating stage by stage against Hamas.

Today I brought foreign media with me into Gaza to see the facts for themselves. Hamas has been systematically using hospitals in Gaza to run its terror machine. Hamas built tunnels underneath hospitals, used them to command their operations, yes, command their operations underneath hospitals! Hamas wages war from hospitals. This is the sick nature of the savage terrorists we are fighting. Hamas is using the protected status of the hospitals as a shield. Now, the irrefutable truth of Hamas’ exploitation of hospitals in Gaza is on full display to the world. We have an important question to ask the international community: what will you do to stop Gaza’s hospitals from being turned into terror bases in the future? Will you condemn Hamas? Or will you continue to be silent? Will you remain silent?

I want to make it clear that Israel is at war with Hamas. We are not at war with the people of Gaza. We will continue fighting Hamas; at the same time we will continue facilitating humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. Humanitarian assistance is an integral part of our operations. As we move forward, we will not for a second lose sight of our goals: to free Gaza from Hamas and to absolutely do everything to free all our hostages.