IDF Chief of Staff: Hamas Significantly Weakened in Gaza, Security Reality Fundamentally Changed

The IDF chief of the General Staff said Wednesday that Israeli forces have significantly weakened Hamas in the Gaza Strip and fundamentally altered the security situation there, pledging to maintain a proactive forward defense to protect Israeli communities.

The chief of staff conducted an operational assessment in Gaza alongside senior commanders, touring the area and receiving briefings from battalion commanders on the current operational picture. He met with division and brigade commanders and expressed appreciation to troops operating in Gaza.

"In the Gaza Strip, we are striking Hamas. We have significantly weakened it and fundamentally changed the security reality," The chief of staff said. "The IDF will continue to operate proactively and according to the principle we established, to remove threats and, in every situation, maintain a forward defense posture to protect the communities and residents and safeguard their security. We will not allow a threat to emerge on our borders like the one we experienced during the October 7th massacre."

He emphasized that the Gaza front forms part of a broader multi-front effort, noting that he had met with troops in southern Lebanon the previous week and observed the same spirit of initiative and determination.

"We are implementing the security strategy we defined, not only here, but along all of the State of Israel's borders. The IDF is positioned at the front, ahead of the communities and their residents, in order to protect them," He said.

The chief of staff identified the ongoing pursuit of those involved in planning and carrying out the October 7, 2023 massacre as a permanent mission being executed by Southern Command.

"The images from the communities, the Bibas family, the surveillance soldiers, and all the victims of the October 7th massacre are before our eyes every day," He said. "We will continue to pursue those responsible for the massacre, and we will not relent until we bring every person who played a part in it to justice, sooner or later. This is a permanent and ongoing mission."