The Israeli army has vowed to use every available method to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza, its spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said during a briefing to foreign journalists on Friday in Rafah, a city ravaged by the ongoing war.
Commitment to Hostage Recovery
“We need to do everything, everything we can, by all means, to bring them back home,” Hagari emphasized to the embedded journalists. He made it clear that rescuing the hostages is one of the central objectives of the war, stating, “This is one of the goals of the war, and we will achieve it.”
Tragic Loss and Public Outcry
Hagari spoke in front of a tunnel entrance in Rafah’s Tel al-Sultan neighborhood, where Israel claims Hamas executed six hostages in late November. The incident sparked widespread grief and anger in Israel, with critics accusing the government of not doing enough to secure a deal that could end the conflict and ensure the hostages’ release.
Destruction in Rafah
Rafah, located in southern Gaza, has suffered extensive damage. Footage from AFPTV on Friday revealed streets lined with bombed-out buildings, many of them partially collapsed and spilling rubble into the streets. According to Hagari, the destruction is part of Israel’s efforts to eliminate Hamas’s tunnel network beneath the city.
“You have a maze of tunnels here in Rafah, underneath the houses. This is why the destruction,” Hagari explained. “There isn’t one point left without a tunnel here in Rafah. To defeat Hamas, we need to take control of this underground system.”
The Strategic Philadelphi Corridor
Journalists were also shown the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow strip of land between Gaza and Egypt. The corridor has emerged as a key issue in ongoing ceasefire negotiations mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underscored the importance of retaining control over the corridor to prevent arms smuggling into Gaza from Egypt.
Israel’s Determination
Despite the complexity of the situation in Gaza, Israel remains steadfast in its efforts to maintain control of the territory and achieve its military objectives. It is clear that Israel has set a defined target and will not relent until its mission is accomplished.
