{"id":20327,"date":"2025-04-21T21:30:11","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T18:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reganews.co.il\/en\/?p=20327"},"modified":"2025-04-21T22:44:30","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T19:44:30","slug":"idf-spokesperson-says-hamas-will-be-pursued-until-every-hostage-is-returned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reganews.co.il\/en\/idf-spokesperson-says-hamas-will-be-pursued-until-every-hostage-is-returned\/","title":{"rendered":"IDF Spokesperson Says Hamas Will Be Pursued Until Every Hostage Is Returned"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a statement released today (Monday) from the Morag Corridor, located between Khan Younis and Rafah, IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Efi Dafrin outlined the IDF\u2019s main efforts in southern Gaza as part of Operation Strength and Sword.<\/p>\n

Dafrin clarified that the operation\u2019s goal is to dismantle Hamas\u2019s rule and bring all the hostages home. He stressed that IDF forces are operating throughout the Gaza Strip\u2014both underground and above it\u2014with determination and perseverance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Hostages Are Our Top Priority\u201d<\/strong>
\n\u201cWe\u2019re standing here in the Morag Corridor, the area between Khan Younis and Rafah,\u201d Dafrin began. \u201cThe purpose of this operation is to increase pressure on Hamas in order to return the hostages and to dismantle Hamas\u2019s military and governing rule.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Expanding the Morag Corridor | Photo: IDF Spokesperson\u2019s Unit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe hostages are always in our thoughts. This is a top priority for us. Every soldier here\u2014from the regional commander to the brigade commanders to the last soldier\u2014understands this goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re Achieving Results\u2014Above Ground and Below\u201d<\/strong>
\n\u201cWe\u2019re operating in both northern and southern Gaza, including where we are now,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve severed the area between Khan Younis and Rafah. We\u2019re striking Hamas infrastructure. There have been many successes\u2014both above and below ground. We are targeting Hamas\u2019s chain of command and will continue doing so\u2014consistently and frequently.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe Eliminated the Fifth Commander of the Shuja\u2019iyya Battalion \u2013 No One\u2019s Rushing to Replace Him\u201d<\/strong>
\n\u201cI\u2019m talking about the fifth commander of the Shuja\u2019iyya Battalion\u2014we eliminated him,\u201d said Dafrin. \u201cI don\u2019t see anyone lining up to take his place in recent days. And we\u2019ll continue eliminating more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Golani forces operating in the Morag Corridor | Photo: IDF Spokesperson\u2019s Unit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAmbiguity Is Part of the Strategy \u2013 And We Will Keep Surprising Them\u201d<\/strong>
\n\u201cFrom the beginning of this operation, we\u2019ve maintained ambiguity. It\u2019s not a slogan\u2014ambiguity is part of our method, part of our operational concept,\u201d he explained. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to let Hamas in on what we\u2019re doing. Now that we\u2019ve finished severing this area\u2014we\u2019ll expand more and more and keep surprising them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Golani forces operating in the Morag Corridor | Photo: IDF Spokesperson\u2019s Unit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cHamas Is Under Pressure \u2013 We\u2019ll Chase It Everywhere\u201d<\/strong>
\n\u201cHamas is under pressure. We will pursue Hamas wherever it is\u2014north Gaza, south Gaza, and outside the Strip, wherever that may be,\u201d Dafrin concluded. \u201cWe will not rest until we bring our hostages home\u2014every single one of them, living and deceased.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Efi Dafrin spoke about the achievements of Operation Strength and Sword in the southern Gaza Strip, emphasized that the hostages are the top priority, and stated: \u201cHamas is under pressure \u2013 we will pursue it in the north, in the south, and outside the Strip. We will not rest until we bring them all home.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":20329,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,6],"tags":[4499,2424,1477,3918,2373,3838,4003],"class_list":["post-20327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-idf","category-security","tag-efi-dafrin","tag-gaza-strip","tag-hamas","tag-hostage-crisis","tag-idf-spokesperson","tag-morag-corridor","tag-operation-might-and-sword"],"yoast_head":"\nIDF Spokesperson Says Hamas Will Be Pursued Until Every Hostage Is Returned - REGA news<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"IDF Spokesperson Says Hamas Will Be Pursued Until Every Hostage Is Returned\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"IDF Spokesperson Brig. 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