Israeli Defense Minister Gallant in Gaza, tells IDF troops: ‘No mission more worthy than what you are doing’

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited the Gaza front on Tuesday, along with Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.- Gen. Amir Baram, to assess the situation. 

During the visit, Gallant spoke with IDF soldiers operating in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the importance of holding the Salah-al-Din humanitarian aid route in order to strengthen achievements in northern Gaza, while focusing combat efforts on the southern area in Khan Younis. 

“I sincerely appreciate all that you do – your ability to operate and fight over the past three months, while your partners and children are at home,” Gallant told the soldiers. “I am also filled with gratitude for our fallen soldiers.” 

He told the troops that the job they are doing is important for Israel’s future. 

“There is no worthier mission than the one we currently seek to achieve. Israel was brutally attacked – the intent was to discourage us from living here,” Gallant stated.

“We must emerge victorious for two reasons; first, in order to exact a price, and to ensure that anyone living near the Gaza strip may do so safely.” 

Gallant said victory was also importance for deterrence. 

“In addition – a scenario in which 1,500 people are killed or taken hostage, must end with clear-cut deterrence and victory, otherwise we cannot live in the Middle East. As such, we are determined to achieve our goals.” 

The defense minister praised the soldiers for their accomplishments so far. 

“In the north ,we destroyed 12 Hamas battalions. This does not mean that we have eliminated all the terrorists,” Gallant said. “There are terrorists left, several thousand out of the 15,000 or 18,000 that were in this area. A large number of terrorists were eliminated, while some fled to the south.” 

The retired IDF general said “if necessary, we will hold this area [northern Gaza] for a period of time,” and stressed that the goal is “to exhaust the enemy and eliminate him.” 

He told the soldiers the situation in Khan Younis is much different, and pushed back against the idea that Israel was “giving up.” 

“Our course of action changes as a function of our accomplishments and situation assessments,” Gallant affirmed. We are not giving up - it's not that we are stopping our activities now - there is an incorrect belief [about this] that I have been hearing.” 

Gallant maintained that the goal is still the same; the elimination of Hamas. 

“The results will be clear. We are ending this campaign when Hamas no longer functions as a governing body and certainly not as a military body that sends troops [to conduct attacks]. Now we continue maintaining our capabilities.” 

He noted that Hezbollah terror forces continue to represents a growing threat on Israel's northern border.

“Alongside this unfortunately, there are additional threats, the first and most prominent of which is what is happening in the north. We will begin a preparation process to address this. We are constantly watching the arena and holding a finger on the trigger, as far as what is happening in the northern arena,” Gallant said.