In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari articulated Israel’s mission in the Gaza conflict: the dismantling of Hamas and the safe return of hostages.

Hagari underscored Hamas’ egregious tactic of using civilians as human shields, a strategy entrenched for over 16 years. He detailed Hamas’ systematic embedding of terror infrastructure within civilian areas, including tunnels under homes and weapon caches in schools, mosques, hospitals, and international institutions.

“IDF troops discovered that most homes in Gaza have terror tunnels underneath or weapon caches inside, and the majority of schools, mosques, hospitals and international institutions have been used by Hamas for their military operations,” he stated.

Hagari condemned Hamas’ deliberate blending with civilian populations, noting their instruction for terrorists to dress as innocents to camouflage their true identities. Furthermore, he highlighted Hamas’ brazen exploitation of sensitive locations like hospitals, exploiting international law and garnering public sympathy for their military activities.

In stark contrast, Hagari emphasized the IDF’s adherence to international law, conducting operations with transparency and caution to minimize civilian harm. He stressed that the IDF’s conflict is solely with Hamas, not the people of Gaza, and outlined extensive measures taken to protect civilians caught in the crossfire.

Hagari reiterated Israel’s commitment to its mission while upholding moral values, affirming that the goal is not to destroy Gaza or displace its people but to neutralize the threat posed by Hamas and ensure the safe return of hostages. He pledged to continue exposing the true nature of Hamas to the world, shedding light on their use of civilian shields and exploitation of international sympathy.

In conclusion, Hagari’s op-ed provided a comprehensive overview of Israel’s objectives in the Gaza conflict, emphasizing the stark contrast between Hamas’ tactics and the IDF’s commitment to upholding humanitarian principles while confronting the terrorist organization.