Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, October 29th, 20:10

Evening statement - October 29

The ground operation continues and intensifies in the Gaza Strip. Infantry, air and naval forces operated today in Gaza and killed many terrorists. Among the dozens of terrorists killed in battle and from the air were tactical commanders. A tactical commander in Hamas is one who commands the forces in the field and directs them. Alongside the ground forces’ operation, we continue massive attacks from the air, first and foremost to secure the safety of the ground forces, and also to destroy Hamas’ terror infrastructure.

We continue with our intense attacks from the air in order to protect our infantry and to destroy Hamas’ terror infrastructure. We are conducting a situation assessment.

The ground operations are complex and involve risks. We are doing everything from the air, the sea and the ground in order to secure the safety of our forces.

Over the past few weeks, we have repeatedly proven that Hamas is using residents of the Gaza Strip in a cynical manner. They are committing crimes against humanity and war crimes - in the way in which they use humanitarian facilities, like hospitals, schools and other institutions that we have exposed.

The civilian population in Gaza is saying that Sinwar doesn’t care any more. They are no more to him than  his personal human shield. He has brought upon them a disaster and he has lost control. He is responsible for the collapse of Gaza. He thinks and acts like a murderer and he has proven to the entire world that Hamas is worse than ISIS, by carrying out the massacre on October 7, when more than 200 innocent civilians were kidnapped, including babies and elderly. 

We will pursue Yahya Sinwar until we get to him. Over the past two weeks, we have urged the residents of northern Gaza and Gaza City to temporarily evacuate to the south. Evacuating south is for their personal safety. Today we emphasize that this is a matter of urgency. South of Wadi Gaza are conditions which will allow access to medicines, food and water. Move south.

NORTH

In the north, a number of launches were directed from Lebanon towards Israel during the day. IDF troops returned fire towards the source and struck Hezbollah terror infrastructure.

We attacked three terrorist cells today that carried out shootings toward IDF troops. We killed terrorists who were on the border fence who attempted to infiltrate our territory. We will continue to kill any terrorist on the border and will prevent them from crossing into Israel.

This evening, rockets were fired at Kiryat Shmona and the Upper Galilee, and the IDF returned fire toward the source.

We continue with offensive and defensive operations in the north from the air, the sea and ground. We are highly prepared in the north.

Every attempt to fire and every attack against us will be met with a decisive response.

HOME FRONT

Home Front Command guidelines continue to be updated daily, as the GOC Home Front Command noted in his statement today. It is important to follow the guidelines as they save lives. By closely following these guidelines, civilians can find normalcy within the context of this war.

We have informed the families of 311 fallen soldiers and 239 hostages. I want to explain this number. It is incomprehensible - 239 hostages. There are foreign-national workers among the hostages. This is not a small figure. Identifying them and informing their families has been complicated and has taken more time. As a result the number has risen.

The number of missing continues to fall, and currently stands at 40. I want to say to the families of the hostages that I understand that the uncertainty is very difficult. We will not rest until we understand what has happened to your loved ones and have informed you.