IDF chief Halevi says troops’ efforts brought Hamas to ‘difficult situation’ that led to hostage deal

Speaking to troops in northern Gaza’s Beit Hanoun last week, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi says the ceasefire deal would not have been reached if Hamas had not been in such a difficult situation.”

“We would not have reached an agreement under these terms if Hamas had not been in such a difficult situation, and we see this. It’s you that brought Hamas to such a difficult situation, along with other troops, strikes, intelligence, and continuous action,” he said to troops of the Nahal Brigade on Thursday in comments released today.

Halevi says during an offensive against Hamas in the Strip’s far north, launched in October, the IDF “killed approximately 3,000 terrorists, apprehended hundreds.”

“We take pride in stepping back to extend a hand in order to bring home dozens of living hostages, and we will also take pride and be determined to return going forward to fighting,” he says.