IDF says it will ‘do its best’ to safeguard hostages during Gaza City offensive

IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin says the military will “do its best” to safeguard the hostages during its offensive against Hamas in Gaza City.

Responding to a question at a press conference on how the IDF will fight in Gaza City after Hamas published footage showing hostages being held in the area, Defrin says: “We are aware of the concerns of the hostages’ families, we will do our best to avoid harming the hostages.”

Hamas has previously threatened to execute hostages if IDF troops approach the areas where they are being held and family members have expressed extreme concern for the fate of the captives amid the offensive.

Defrin, in a press conference from the Gaza border, slams Hamas for not allowing Palestinian civilians to leave Gaza, saying that “Hamas set up in Gaza City the largest human shield in history.”

“It exploits the civilian population as a human shield. It prevents them from evacuating from combat zones, while using violence,” he says, adding that the IDF is enabling civilians to leave “for their protection.”

Defrin says the IDF estimates that over 350,000 Palestinians have left Gaza City in recent weeks to other areas of the Strip. He says that “in accordance with international law,” the IDF has “adapted the humanitarian efforts” for Gazans leaving Gaza City.

“There will be no starvation in Gaza; humanitarian aid will also be delivered to northern Gaza,” he says.

Defrin says the military is currently in control of “widespread” areas in Gaza City, following “intensive IDF activity in recent weeks in the Zeitoun and Sheikh Radwan neighborhoods and Jabalia.”

“These actions brought about the operational conditions to deepen the fighting inside Gaza City,” he says, referring to the army’s new ground offensive, which began last night.