Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, October 10th, Morning
10.10.23
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As we enter the fourth day of the war, we are prepared for combat on all fronts and at all borders. Tonight we conducted an unprecedented attack in Gaza.
Let me begin by addressing the Israeli public
We have witnessed thousands of acts of heroism by civilians over the past few days: establishment of entire volunteer organizations, and reservists reporting for duty on a massive scale, this resilience encourages the IDF, fills us with strength, and leaves our enemies no place to doubt our power.
Counterattack
The IDF has shifted to a different counterattack method and is striking in waves. Tens of IAF aircraft have struck aerially every 4 hours over the past 36 hours. The IAF has all its reserve personnel manning aircraft both in the headquarters and the squadrons on a wise scale. These strikes on thousands of terrorist targets using thousands of munitions. We are using every piece of intelligence to maximize damage to meeting spots for terrorists planning to invade Israel, houses belonging to senior Hamas commanders, terrorist operational centers and headquarters and terrorist infrastructure.
The main strike conducted last night targeted the Rimal area in Gaza. The area is a symbol of luxury in the center of Gaza and has very significant meaning to senior Hamas leaders and operatives. Afterwards, we struck further targets in Khan Yunis, including terrorist intelligence infrastructure, apartments used for operational purposes and a spot where terrorists have been gathering before attacking Israeli territory. Hundreds of Hamas terrorist organization operatives have been neutralized during these strikes.
Hamas terrorists will find no shelter in Gaza, we will find them wherever they are. Simultaneously to the IAF’s strikes, the Israeli Navy has been operating in the maritime arena, striking from sea to land. Terrorist operatives have attempted to dive, swim and utilize boats to attack through Israel’s Zikim Beach. They have failed. There are tens of neutralized Hamas terrorists from the Hamas’ naval force on the Beach or on boats.
Defense
The IDF has full control of the area surrounding Gaza. To our knowledge, there were no infiltrations from Gaza overnight. There have been a few cases when our hundreds of thousands of soldiers encountered terrorists in the area. The Commanding Officer of the Gaza Division met with the Chief of the General Staff yesterday together with the Commanding Officer of the Southern Command and additional brigade commanders. They toured the area and the Chief of the General Staff gave clear instructions regarding the deployment of forces, so that high ranking officers in addition to the Commanding Officer of the Gaza Division will be deployed throughout the area and clear it from terrorists.
We had an encounter between a terrorist and soldiers from the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion in the area of the town of Sa’ad. We are continuing to clear the area and might encounter more terrorists. This is a war zone, therefore all instructions and guidelines within it must be adhered to. There have been two incidents ‘on’ the fence where terrorists attempted to infiltrate into Israel and were neutralized. We are creating an ‘iron wall’ of tanks, helicopters and additional aircraft and our policy regarding the fence is that anyone who approaches it will be neutralized.
We have completed the evacuation of all towns and communities adjacent to the Gaza security fence. There are families who have chosen to stay, there are individuals in vital positions who have chosen to stay, and at this stage thousands of IDF forces are present in the area, securing it. We have many commanders present in the area and we have a number of objectives, including clearing the bodies of terrorists.
To make clear the scale of terrorist neutralization in the areas surrounding Gaza, there are hundreds of bodies of naturalized terrorists. Some Hamas terrorists have been taken and arrested. We are scanning the area for Israeli missing persons and hostages as well. The area is a war zone and we are operating in it as such. A situational assessment with the Chief of the General Staff, the Minister of Defense and the Prime Minister has just been conducted with the Commanding Officers of all IDF Commands. We are conducting an ongoing situational assessment in every arena including the northern arena.
North
A number of operational incidents have taken place in the north over the past 24 hours, we are on high alert in the region. As of right now no incidents are occurring in the northern arena, but our ground and aerial forces are on high alert. We’ve had an encounter with terrorists adjacent to the Blue Line and our Yankinton post. Our soldiers encountered 4 terrorists, one broke a hole in the fence and escaped back to Lebanon, 3 others infiltrated into Israel.
The Commander of the 300th Brigade engaged in contact with his force and his Deputy. Two terrorists were neutralized during the encounter and one escaped back to Lebanon. We then struck Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the area and two have been neutralized as a result. We reacted in a severe manner to this encounter. Deputy Commander of the 300th brigade, the late LTC Alim Abdallah, was an excellent commander who engaged in contact like IDF commanders are doing on all fronts. Ali, may his memory be a blessing, led the force and commanded it courageously and heroically while defending the civilians of northern Israel. We are on high alert in case any incidents of this sort occur again.
Central Command
We are operating strongly in Judea and Samaria. IDF forces are currently present in the area, securing routes and conducting counterterrorism activities together with the ISA and Israel Police. Anyone who challenges us in Judea and Samaria will face tremendous force. The instructions of the Commanding Officer of the Central Command must be adhered to. We are securing all routes and will thwart any terrorist attacks that might arise.
International Support:
The Chief of the General Staff spoke with the new U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General (* * * *) Charles Q. Brown Jr. and the previous Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General (res) Mark Milley. We are working with the U.S. in complete operational cooperation. This cooperation is expressed operationally and in intelligence. Americans speak through actions - the U.S. forces that have arrived at the area of the Mediterranean sea are powerful forces, They came with an aircraft carrier carrying tens of aircraft, with vessels, with thousands of missiles and munitions. There is great coordination between our forces.
Yesterday, many countries expressed significant willingness to assist Israel. The IDF is capable of facing its threats on its own. However, there is great importance in the forces and assistance that are arriving in the area, and that is the manner in which enemy countries in the region perceive this. This assistance creates great enemy deterrence. There is no lack of equipment, food or water in the state of Israel. 300,000 reservists reported for duty over 48 hours, therefore it takes time to transport equipment to them. We are not lacking equipment, everyone will be provided everything they need, we are taking this matter very seriously.
Fallen Soldiers
Only after we let the families know of their loved ones who fell in combat do we let the public know. There are currently 123 IDF fallen soldiers and we embrace their families. We send strength to the hundreds of injured civilians and soldiers, and wish them all a full recovery.
Hostages and missing persons
We have informed the families of 50 of the individuals who have been abducted so far regarding the situation. There are tens of senior service members in active and reserve duty in the Manpower Directorate who are accompanying and supporting the families and gathering details from them. The Chief of the General Staff has appointed MG Nitzan Alon to lead the operational and intelligence efforts in the matter of missing and abducted persons.
The ISIS-like presence in Gaza that calls itself Hamas has added itself to the list of the most murderous and barbaric terrorist organizations in history. It is clear to us who we are fighting and what we are fighting for.
It is important that you, the public, will have all the information. The entire Spokesperson’s Unit and I are intent on reporting and reflecting the full current operational situational assessment.
