IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi addressed the security situation in Israel today (Thursday) for the second time since the outbreak of Operation Swords of Iron following the Hamas massacre of over 1,300 Israelis.
"It is five days after this murderous, brutal, and surprising incident. The slaughter of our children, our women, our people by Hamas was animalistic and inhumane. The IDF is fighting merciless terrorists who have committed unimaginable acts," Halevi said.
"This abominable attack was decided upon by Yahya Sinwar, the ruler of the Gaza Strip, therefore he and all those under him are dead men walking. We will attack them, dismantle them, dismantle their system. The IDF under my command understands the magnitude of the hour and the magnitude of the task placed on our shoulders. The IDF is responsible for the security of the country and its citizens and on Saturday morning in the Gaza Strip, we failed. We will learn from this, we will face questions about it, but now is the time for war," he declared.
Addressing the citizens of Israel, the Chief of Staff said: "In these difficult times, I want you to know, the IDF here is the protective force of the State of Israel with all its strength, capabilities, and especially its wonderful people. I am very proud to stand at the head of those in charge and the soldiers who are willing to fight fiercely with determination. They include many thousands of men and women in the reserves who dropped everything immediately and came to fight, to fight for their home. I was in the field, I saw the atrocities, the pictures, I talked with the commanders and soldiers who fought in the field."
“We will do everything to return the hostages back home," he promised. “We are killing many terrorists, many commanders, destroying terror infrastructure that supported this terrible, brutal crime."
He added: “Gaza will not look the same."
"In addition to the horrors of the enemy, the heroic acts of soldiers, people, and our security forces are also being revealed. They used whatever they had and went out to fight and stop this war, with one goal - to save lives."
