Defense Minister Gallant gave a statement to an artillery battery near the Rafah area today (Tuesday), addressing the goals of the current Rafah operation.
In his statement, he explained how the operation is a means of securing a hostage deal:
"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.
"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."
