Yes, I can confirm Israel is moving ahead with our
operation
to target Hamas in Rafa.
We will as usual be making every effort to move
civilians out of harm's way as we as we have
done in the past.
We believe that we've destroyed at least 18 or 19
of Hamas
24 battalions. But the four battalions which remain
in Rafa cannot be shielded
from Israel. They will be attacked.
Israel has said that it is moving ahead with its
planned operation in the southern Gaza City of Rafa,
despite international outcry over the fears for the
1.5 million Palestinians sheltering there.
Israel is moving ahead with our operation to target Hamas
and Rafa,
government spokesperson David Mensor told a press briefing.
The four battalions which remain in Rafa cannot be shielded
from Israel.
They will be attacked. Mensa added that 2 reserve brigades
had been mobilized for defensive and tactical missions in Gaza
against the Palestinian Islamist movement.
Now an update from Gaza,
the IDF has mobilized 2 reserve brigades for defensive and
tactical missions in Gaza
as part of the readiness for operations in Gaza.
These brigades have increased their readiness using experience gained from
operations in Gaza and in the north.
Hamas continues using humanitarian infrastructure with 0 regard 0 regard
to Gaza civilians.
Just this morning it was reported that Hamas placed loaded
rocket launchers in a humanitarian zone
in southern Gaza where where civilians were residing are residing.
The IDF precisely struck the launchers before the Rockets were
fired with steps to mitigate harm to the civilians.
In the past day, IAF fighter jets and aircraft have
struck over 50 targets,
tunnel shafts and terror infrastructure in central Gaza
to the north of Israel.
Now, yesterday and today, there have been numerous launches from
Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Israel's Air Force have hit the Hezbollah sources of fire
forcefully in the era of in the area of Markaba,
Aita, Ashab and Marwahin. Yes,
I can confirm Israel is moving ahead with our operation
to target Hamas in Rafah.
We will, as usual, be making every effort to move
civilians out of harm's way as we as we have
done in the past.
We believe that we've destroyed at least 18 or 19
of
Hamas's 24 battalions. But the four battalions which remain
in Rafa cannot be shielded
from Israel. They will be attacked.
And we do this for the simple reason,
as Benny Gantz, a minister in the security cabinet has
has said very,
very clearly, we cannot put out 80%
of this Hamas genocidal army fire and leave 20 cent,
20% still roaring, because that 20%
will take retake Gaza. They will regroup and retake Gaza
and they will attack us again.
They wish to do October the 7th again and we
will not let that happen.
We refuse to live next to this genocidal,
poisonous terror army anymore. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said
repeatedly that Israel will press ahead with the threatened assault
on Rafa,
the last major population center in Gaza that Israeli ground
troops have yet to enter.