Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited today (Thursday) the training of Brigade 5—a reserve brigade— in Tze’elim Training Base. He observed the soldiers’ drills in preparation for the expansion of operations in the Gaza Strip.
“Two Goals—Defeat Hamas and Free the Hostages”
During the visit, Netanyahu received an operational briefing from the brigade commanders, covering insights from recent combat and the readiness of the forces for continued ground maneuvering. Following the briefing, the Prime Minister spoke with the soldiers and commanders, answering their questions.
In his remarks, Netanyahu praised the reserve soldiers for their performance, dedication, and fighting spirit. “I am here at Tze’elim to see up close the quality of our soldiers, our heroes,” he said. “There are reserve soldiers and commanders here—they are doing an excellent job. We are determined to achieve two goals: first, to defeat Hamas; second, simultaneously, to free our hostages.”
“We Have Changed the Face of the Middle East”
Netanyahu also addressed the regional dimension of the conflict:
“To this day, we have changed the face of the Middle East. We brought Hezbollah to its knees, Hamas even lower, the Assad regime fell, and Iran has also felt the might of our arm. We still have challenges ahead, but we have strong morale, thanks to our military, composed of both regular and reserve forces.”
The visit took place on the 53rd anniversary of the Sabena hostage rescue operation, in which Netanyahu participated as a soldier and was injured. “The same spirit that guided us then is the one I see here,” he concluded. “To Hamas, I say one thing—the rules are about to change, very soon—thanks to you.”
Accompanying Officials:
Alongside the Prime Minister were Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman, Military Secretary Major General Roman Gofman, Ground Forces Commander Major General Nadav Lotan, Training and Education Corps Commander Major General David Zini, Ground Forces Training Center Commander Brigadier General Kobi Heller, and Prime Minister’s Spokesperson Dr. Omer Dostri.
