Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, second from left, is pictured in Gaza. (Elad Malka)
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said during a visit to the Gaza Strip that Israeli military operations in the enclave would continue for some time but would change depending on the assessment of the situation.
“The feeling that we will stop soon is wrong – without a clear victory we will not be able to live in the Middle East,” the official said.
Gallant visited the soldiers of the 99th Division in the Gaza Strip along the Salah Al-Din Route, the central road that connects north and south Gaza. He said it was crucial to hold the route “to strengthen successes in the northern part of the Gaza Strip while concentrating efforts on the Khan Younis area,” an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) statement said. .
“We must emerge victorious for two reasons – first, to claim a prize and to ensure that everyone living near Gaza can do so safely. Furthermore, a scenario in which 1,500 people are killed or taken hostage must end in clear deterrence and victory, otherwise we cannot live in the Middle East. “We are therefore determined to achieve our goals,” said Gallant.
He claimed there were “several thousand.” [Hamas fighters] of the 15,000 or 18,000 who were in that area.”
“A large number of terrorists were eliminated and some fled to the south. This means that tactically we will operate in this location with firepower, some maneuvers and special operations and will hold this area for a period of time if necessary. The goal is to exhaust the enemy [Hamas terrorists] and eliminate them,” he said.
Gallant claimed: “In the north we destroyed 12 Hamas battalions. “That doesn't mean we've eliminated all terrorists – but the scenario where a terrorist picks up binoculars, reports, fires mortars and then a battalion commander deploys maneuver forces – that scenario is irrelevant here.”
He added: “The reality is different in the southern part of the Gaza Strip,” and that operations in Khan Younis were focused on the area above the tunnels, where “senior Hamas officials are hiding at great depths.”
Gallant insisted the operation change, not stop.
“Our approach changes depending on our successes and assessments of the situation. We are not giving up – it is not that we are stopping our activities now – that is a wrong feeling [about this] That’s what I heard,” he added.
“We will end this campaign when Hamas no longer functions as a government body, let alone as a military entity that sends troops [to conduct attacks]. Now we continue to maintain our capacity,” he said.
Gallant then spoke briefly about the northern border with Lebanon and described it as an additional threat. “We will begin a preparatory process to address this issue. We are constantly monitoring the arena and keeping an eye on what is happening in the North Arena.”