IDF proving in Khan Younis it can fight while respecting laws of war, spokesman says
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari says Israel’s ground offensive respects international law and keeps fighting within its bounds despite the large number of civilians in southern Gaza.
“We are proving that our forces are surrounding the center of Khan Younis while respecting international law… we are showing the world that we can do this, simultaneous with humanitarian efforts,” he says.”This will allow us to manage the fighting over time. To strike a terrorist group that uses civilians as human shields, and hides underground, we need time.”
Hagari also says the military is expecting a “long war”
In response to a question, Hagari calls those kidnapped by the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip “heroes.”
“They acted courageously, both before and after [being released]. They fought cowardly, vile terrorists who took children and women hostage in Gaza,” he says in response to a question.
