Following Hamas’ Refusal to Return the 59 Remaining Hostages, the IDF Conducted Preemptive Strikes in the Gaza Strip
This all began on October 7th, 2023, when Hamas launched a brutal massacre, invading Israel's southern border communities, killing over 1,200 people, and abducting 251 hostages into the Gaza Strip. Since then the IDF has been operating continuously to ensure the safe return of all our hostages and to dismantle Hamas’ military capabilities.
As part of this ongoing mission, during the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, 38 hostages—both Israelis and foreign nationals—were returned home. Some were reunited with their families, others returned for burial—each one a national story of heartbreak and resilience. Meanwhile, Hamas tried to use the ceasefire to its advantage, preparing the execution of its next terror attacks, building up its forces, and re-arming itself in the Gaza Strip, as it continued to openly carry out terrorism against Israel and its citizens.
59 hostages remain in Hamas captivity. These hostages were brutally abducted on October 7th, 2023, and have now suffered more than 529 days in Hamas’ inhumane captivity. The stories of returned hostages that have been shared with the world should echo in the minds of every decent human being. Their testimonies prove the atrocities they went through, and provide an insight to the horrors that the remaining hostages are facing right now. And yet, Hamas continues to refuse to release all of our hostages.
These were the decisions made by Hamas—a genocidal terror organization built on the premise of the destruction of Israel. It could have chosen a different path. It could have chosen to release all the hostages but instead chose refusal, terror, and war.
While Hamas endangers its own population, using the civilians of Gaza as human shields for its terror activities, embedding its military infrastructure and activity behind and beneath the civilian population, the IDF continues to make efforts to mitigate harm to the civilian population.
Upon receiving indications that Hamas was actively planning and preparing to carry out further terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers, the IDF launched a series of preemptive strikes against Hamas terror targets in Gaza. These strikes targeted Hamas military commanders, officials in Hamas’ leadership, and terrorist infrastructure.
These preemptive strikes are a clear sign that we have learned from the failures of October 7th. We will never again allow Hamas, or any other genocidal terror force, to build up its capabilities on our borders, threatening Israel’s security and citizens.
Hamas has vowed to repeat the October 7th Massacre.
"We must teach Israel a lesson, and we will do this again and again. The Al-Aqsa Flood is just the first time, and there will be a second, a third, a fourth.” - Senior Hamas member, Ghazi Hamad
It is our duty to prevent this. Hamas must never be able to start another war.
We are committed to achieving all of the goals of the war—including bringing home all the 59 hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza, and dismantling Hamas’ capabilities.
Security is not given; it is ensured, and it is our mission as the IDF to ensure it.
Until next time,
LTC Nadav Shoshani
Standing with Israel. FAITH COURAGE PERSEVERANCE
Elohim yevarekh et Yisrael
Bulldoze Gaza into the Med, Create a wharf protected harbor and more land. A park full of trees. Never ever let one Palestinian step foot there again. They chose war, they lost. Now they are refugees, no tears for them.