'Hamas only responds to force, so we will intensify our actions,' says Israeli DM Gallant near Rafah
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday visited an artillery battery that provides fire support to IDF troops operating in the Rafah area.
IDF troops began a targeted operation in eastern Rafah late Monday evening after the War Cabinet unanimously decided to go ahead with the operation, By Tuesday morning, they had secured the Gaza side of the border crossing between Egypt and the coastal enclave.
Gallant toured the Rafah area and met IDF commanders and soldiers operating there.
He spoke of the significance of entering Rafah, saying: "I want to remind everyone something crucial - the murderers [Hamas terrorists] who went to [the Israeli communities of] Sufa, to Holit, and also targeted Yated, Yevul, Neveh and other local communities, came from the Rafah area. We are targeting [the terrorists] who murdered our children.”
"Yesterday, I directed the IDF to enter the Rafah area, take the crossing, and carry out its missions. This operation will continue until we eliminate Hamas in the Rafah area and the entire Gaza Strip, or until the first hostage returns," he continued.
Gallant also spoke with the troops about the hostage negotiations and the role they play in putting pressure on Hamas.
"We are willing to make compromises in order to bring back hostages, but if that option is removed, we will go on and ‘deepen’ the operation - this will happen all over the [Gaza] Strip - in the south, in the center and in the north. Hamas only responds to force, so we will intensify our actions, and the military pressure will result in us crushing the Hamas [terrorist] organization," the defense minister said.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
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