IDF chief says Hamas trying to hide fate of No. 3, as Gallant hints at Issa’s death

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said Sunday that Hamas is trying to hide the fate of Marwan Issa, the deputy commander of the terror group’s military wing who was targeted in an Israeli strike last week, adding that the IDF is readying itself to operate in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah.

At a press conference, Halevi also said the military has to discipline commanders who have acted contrary to protocols, in an apparent reference to Brig. Gen. Dan Goldfus who offered comments addressed at politicians last week in a press conference without prior approval, and Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram, who ordered the demolition of a university used by Hamas in Gaza without receiving approval from his superiors.

“We are fighting a just, multi-front and complex war, with many achievements, which are expanding. We still have a long way to go until the goals of the war are achieved,” Halevi said, adding that, “in the Gaza Strip, we are surprising the enemy, initiating and further deepening the achievements.”

He said that in northern Gaza, the IDF is “returning and raiding areas where we operated, with new intelligence, using different methods, expanding the damage to Hamas, killing operatives and destroying infrastructure in a targeted and high-quality manner.”

In Khan Younis, Halevi said the IDF is continuing to dismantle Hamas’s brigade in the city in southern Gaza. “We killed many terrorists and arrested many senior terrorists for interrogation. Those who remain alive, are hiding, and have difficulty functioning; we will reach them too,” he vowed.

Speaking about last week’s airstrike on Issa and other operatives in central Gaza’s Nuseirat, Halevi said the IDF “attacked senior Hamas commanders… whose fate Hamas tries very hard to hide.”

“We embarked on this operation after many days of complex planning, creating the operational conditions, and gathering sufficient intelligence. This is a very important achievement for the IDF. A capability we have built over the years together with the Shin Bet, a combination of high-quality intelligence and precise fire from the Air Force, which enables the elimination of senior officials underground,” he said.

“This attack is an expression of the IDF’s ability to reach the most complex places, at the right time, and with high precision. We will continue the effort to eliminate the senior officials. This is a major goal in the war,” Halevi stated.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also hinted Sunday that the targeting of Issa was successful.

“Thanks to the ground operation, we reached information that led to [eliminations] and successes. This is true for northern Gaza, the central camps in Nuseirat, and Rafah,” Gallant said after visiting troops of the 98th Division at an army base in central Israel.

Issa served as the deputy of Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Together with Hamas’s leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, they are believed to have masterminded the group’s October 7 massacre in southern Israel that triggered the war.

Known as the “Shadow Man,” Issa was long known for evading the IDF and rarely made public appearances.

Amid the ongoing fighting, Halevi said in his statement that the IDF continues to plan operations in “areas where we have not yet operated,” referring to southern Gaza’s Rafah and some areas in central Gaza.

“The IDF is preparing for offenses in the additional areas and together with the political echelon we will decide on the timing and the appropriate conditions,” Halevi said.

“As soon as it is decided, the IDF will act with full force and determination. We are determined to act wherever Hamas is building its strength. It is wrong to leave Hamas brigades and Hamas battalions functioning,” he continued.

“Hamas can lay down its weapons and surrender; otherwise, we will continue with great force, until the complete dissolution of Hamas, until the hostages are returned to their homes,” he added. “The return of the hostages is one of the goals of the war, and the IDF will do everything to realize it.”

Halevi refused to comment on the hostage negotiation talks, saying that “we are working with determination in every way to bring about the release of the hostages.”

“One thing is certain, the IDF will implement any decision that is made and will know how to continue fighting at every stage,” he said

Regarding Ramadan, Halevi said that Hamas “has chosen to escalate during Ramadan,” while the IDF is “more alert, strong and prepared, everywhere, all the time, non-stop.”

“Every development in one arena affects the other arenas of war. We work first of all to maintain security, thwart and prevent terror attacks, alongside the desire to facilitate Ramadan,” he added.

On the northern front, Halevi said the military continues to damage Hezbollah’s capabilities and kill its operatives.

“Hezbollah started with strikes, and is paying a heavy, ever-increasing price,” he said.

Halevi said he is aware of the “great difficulty of the residents of the north, who have been evacuated from their homes for a very long time.”

“We will return the residents only with full security. To that end, we will use any means necessary. The IDF and its commanders are determined and ready for this; this is our duty,” he said.

Appearing to refer to commanders Goldfus and Hiram, Halevi said that “IDF commanders, junior ones, and those more senior are commanding a difficult and complex war, in several arenas at the same time, for over five months, bringing about increasing achievements.”

“In war, it is very important to allow the commanders on the battlefield the freedom required to carry out their missions. I trust them and appreciate them very much. In the same breath, I say the obvious: It is impossible to fight when the discipline and rules are not clear and not strict,” Halevi continued.

“The balance between them is the key to success. A commander cannot override an order without authorization if there is no operational, clear and urgent need or reason for this,” he said.

“Commanders who violated the rules will be investigated and dealt with as soon as possible. This is our duty,” Halevi added.

Goldfus received a “severe reprimand” by Halevi on Friday for an unapproved critique of politicians, while Hiram was formally censured Monday for the demolition of a Gazan university.

Halevi stated that the IDF has “very high-quality commanders who fight bravely,” but “in places where they made a mistake or deviated from the orders, there was learning. There were also disciplinary and command measures amid the fighting.”

“Our achievements on the battlefield are the result of the unity of our ranks, alongside the ability to act together subject to IDF values and IDF orders,” Halevi said.

Source » timesofisrael.com