Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz clarified this morning (Friday) that “Israel will continue Operation ‘Swords of Iron’ as long as necessary.” Katz said that the operation will be carried out “with increasing force until the hostages are released by Hamas.” The renewed operation began early Tuesday morning, with strikes by air and sea on dozens of terror targets across the Gaza Strip.
IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar held a security assessment this morning at the Southern Command. The General Staff Forum members participated in the discussion.
“I Instructed the IDF to Capture More Land in Gaza”
According to Katz, if the Hamas terror organization continues to refuse to release the hostages, Israel will continue to take dramatic action against them. “I instructed the IDF to capture more land, evacuating the population and expanding security zones around Gaza to protect Israeli settlements and IDF soldiers by maintaining permanent control over the land by Israel.” He further stated: “As long as Hamas continues its refusal, it will lose more and more territory that will be annexed to Israel.”
“No Endangerment of Israeli Security Interests”
Minister Katz noted that the Israeli government is committed to the proposal from President Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, for the release of all living and deceased hostages in two phases, with a ceasefire in between. The Defense Minister emphasized that this will be done “without compromising Israeli security interests.”
“We will intensify the fighting with airstrikes, sea, and ground attacks, and by expanding the ground maneuver until the hostages are released and Hamas is defeated, using all military and civilian pressure methods—including evacuating the Gazan population south and implementing President Trump’s voluntary relocation plan for Gaza’s residents.”
Major Senior Hamas Figures Eliminated
On Tuesday at 2:20 AM, the operation began with airstrikes on dozens of terror targets across the Gaza Strip.
The IDF strikes were not only directed at the military command, but also at the civilian leadership of Hamas. Several senior high-ranking Hamas figures were successfully eliminated, and among them were:
Mahmoud Abu Watfa, Director-General of Hamas’s Ministry of Interior.
Mohammad Abu Ubaida al-Jamasi, member of Hamas’s Political Bureau in the Gaza Strip.
Issam al-Dalais, member of Hamas’s Political Bureau.
Bahjat Abu Sultan, head of Hamas’s Internal Security Mechanism.
Ahmed al-Khattah, head of the Ministry of Justice in the Gaza Strip.
Yasser Harb, member of Hamas’s Political Bureau.
Abu Hamza, spokesperson for the military wing of the Islamic Jihad.
Rashid Jaghjoukh, head of Hamas’s General Security Mechanism in the Gaza Strip.
Defense Minister Katz’s statement underscores Israel’s firm commitment to securing the release of all hostages and taking decisive action against Hamas. With the threat of territorial loss, Israel is signaling readiness to escalate military operations until its goals are achieved.
