Israel said it carried out a targeted strike against the Hezbollah chief of staff in Beirut, following recommendations from the Defense Minister and IDF leadership.
The spokeswoman citing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that Israel will continue to act independently to prevent Hezbollah from rearming and threatening the country.
The IDF meanwhile also responded to ongoing Hamas violations of the ceasefire in Gaza, eliminating senior terrorists and apprehending others involved in attacks on Israeli soldiers.
Netanyahu’s office underscored that Israel is committed to enforcing security along all borders and ensuring the safe return of hostages held by Hamas. The Israeli government stressed that the ceasefire remains in place, but violations by terrorist organizations will be met with decisive action.
00:07Communications Specialist for the National Public Diplomacy Directorate.
00:11I'll take a few questions after a couple of very brief points to share with you.
00:15Make sure you put your questions in the chat of the Zoom with your name and your outlet.
00:20Today is Sunday, November 23rd, and a short while ago the IDF attacked the Hezbollah Chief of Staff
00:27in the heart of Beirut, who led the strengthening and arming of the terrorist organization.
00:32Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the attack upon the recommendation of the Defense Minister and the IDF Chief of Staff.
00:40Israel is determined to act and achieve its goals anywhere and at all times.
00:45As Israel continues to strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon,
00:49Prime Minister Netanyahu said this morning at the government meeting
00:53that Israel will continue to do everything necessary to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing its capacity to threaten us.
01:01Israel continues to insist on the full enforcement of the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon,
01:07while taking steps to ensure our security.
01:11We will not allow Hezbollah, the terror organization, to recover and rebuild its strength
01:17and threaten Israel from anywhere inside of Lebanon.
01:21The terror organization's activities continue to constitute a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.
01:30Next, today marks day 779 since Hamas first launched its brutal war on Israel.
01:38It also marks day 41 since our released living hostages returned home to their families
01:44and when the bodies of our deceased hostages started to be retrieved.
01:49The first time Hamas violated the ceasefire plan was almost 41 days ago,
01:55when they decided not to return all 48 of our hostages, including all of our deceased hostages,
02:02as we still have three of them in captivity right now.
02:06Ever since that day, the terror group has repeatedly violated the agreement,
02:11from not returning all of our hostages, to attacking our soldiers
02:15and killing three of them in the Gaza Strip under this plan,
02:19to crossing the IDF's yellow line, posing an immediate threat to our soldiers,
02:24to stealing humanitarian aid and brutalizing their own people inside of the Gaza Strip.
02:30This is Hamas, the terror organization who said they were committed to this plan,
02:35has continued to prove otherwise.
02:38This underscores the importance of why Hamas must be disarmed and Gaza demilitarized,
02:44as outlined in the 20-point plan.
02:47Now, violations by Hamas continued throughout the weekend.
02:51On Friday, 15 terrorists emerged from a tunnel at two different locations in eastern Rafa,
02:57where our IDF forces were operating to dismantle remaining underground terror infrastructure there.
03:04Now, at that time on Friday, the IDF apprehended five of the terrorists,
03:08and eliminated six of them.
03:10After 24 hours of locating the remaining terrorists that emerged from that tunnel,
03:16who were hiding out in Rafa,
03:18all 17 terrorists who attempted to flee the underground terror infrastructure were accounted for,
03:25with 11 terrorists eliminated and six terrorists apprehended and transferred for further questioning.
03:31Now, on Saturday, an armed terrorist crossed into the IDF's yellow line with a vehicle
03:37and situated himself on a humanitarian road where aid enters southern Gaza.
03:43The terrorist started firing at IDF soldiers deployed in the nearby area.
03:48The incident was caught on an IDF drone and can be seen as clear as day.
03:54A terrorist with a hoodie on is located on this humanitarian road outside of a parked vehicle,
04:00and he begins shooting in the direction of where our soldiers are located.
04:05Soon after, the soldiers eliminated that terrorist.
04:08This is an example of a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement,
04:13and in response, the IDF began striking Hamas terror targets inside of Gaza.
04:18Now, as a result, Israel eliminated five senior Hamas terrorists,
04:23including the head of supply in Hamas's production headquarters.
04:27This person was a central source of knowledge in the organization's supply and production systems.
04:33Now, during the war, he also operated to transfer weapons from Hamas's headquarters
04:38to battalion and field commanders for use against IDF forces.
04:42Israel will not accept violations by Hamas under the ceasefire framework,
04:48and our IDF forces will continue to remain deployed in the Gaza Strip in accordance with the agreement.
04:55Israel will not rest until all of our hostages are home, the remaining three hostages,
05:01as they should be returned home for proper burial by now.
05:06The mediating countries must insist on the full execution of the framework
05:10and hold Hamas to its commitments to return all of our hostages.
05:16As the Prime Minister said at the beginning of the government meeting this morning,
05:20since the ceasefire started, Hamas has not stopped violating the ceasefire,
05:25and Israel is responding accordingly.
05:28After these repeated violations, Israel thwarted these attempts to harm our soldiers with great force.
05:34Prime Minister Netanyahu has made it abundantly clear.
05:38Israel operates without depending on anyone,
05:41and immediate actions to thwart attacks are carried out automatically by the IDF.
05:46Israel decided without dependence on any external party on how to defend itself,
05:52remove threats, and repel attacks.
05:54Israel is responsible for its own security,
05:57and the Prime Minister says it is of utmost importance for Israel to secure all of its borders,
06:03and that's why Israel is continuing to strike terrorism on several fronts.
06:08I'll now take a few questions.
06:15Okay.
06:16So the first question, Pesha from Reuters.
06:20Number one.
06:21There was an Israeli strike on Beirut today.
06:23What was the name of the target?
06:24Should we expect further strikes on the city?
06:27Does this mean the ceasefire is over?
06:29Does Israel plan to launch a renewed offensive on Lebanon, and to what extent?
06:34Now, as the Prime Minister said this morning, we will continue to do everything necessary to prevent Hezbollah from reestablishing its ability to threaten us,
06:43and he meant it when he said that.
06:45Hezbollah will not be allowed to rearm and operate inside of Lebanon,
06:50and we expect Lebanon to hold Hezbollah's feet to the fire on this.
06:55Prime Minister Netanyahu also made it clear, like I mentioned in the briefing,
06:59Israel operates without depending on anyone,
07:02and immediate actions to thwart attacks are taken by the IDF automatically.
07:07The State of Israel continues to insist on the full enforcement of the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon,
07:13while taking steps to ensure our security as well.
07:16We will not allow Hezbollah, the terrorist organization, to recover, rebuild its strength, and threaten Israel from anywhere inside of Lebanon.
07:25Hezbollah's terrorist activities constitute a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon,
07:31and the IDF will continue to operate to remove any threats to the citizens of Israel, our security forces, and our soldiers.
07:39Your second question, Minister Amihay Shikli wrote on X today that he asked the Prime Minister in today's Cabinet meeting
07:48to expel Turkish diplomats, close the Turkish – close the Turkish consulate in Jerusalem and the embassy,
07:55and ban the Turkish development – excuse me – known as T-I-K-A.
08:05What is the Israeli government's position on this? I have nothing to share on that right now.
08:09In a statement – in a recent statement, you said that despite U.S. plans to sell F-35's jet to Saudi Arabia,
08:16Israel was confident it would maintain its qualitative military edge.
08:20How do you expect it to maintain that edge?
08:22Are there talks with the U.S. about Israel obtaining other advanced equipment when it comes to this?
08:27So the Prime Minister actually had an interview on Thursday, and I point you back to that, where he discusses this as well.
08:35Joel Pollack from California Post.
08:39Is the ceasefire likely to hold?
08:41And what is Israel's reaction to the revelation that many of the most anti-Israel accounts on X,
08:46purporting to be within the MAGA movement, are not in fact based in the United States,
08:50but are based abroad, often in Muslim countries?
08:52The ceasefire is in place right now, and Israel is working to enforce it.
08:57We've been working to enforce it at all times.
08:59We have been upholding our side of the agreement since it was first established more than 40 days ago at this point.
09:06But let's remember, Hamas continues to violate it.
09:10They violated it nearly on the first day by not returning all 48 of our hostages at one time.
09:16Not only that, they've been brutalizing and torturing their own people inside of the Gaza Strip.
09:21They've been attacking our soldiers as well.
09:23Israel will do everything to enforce this ceasefire agreement.
09:27We will uphold our side.
09:28It is expected that Hamas upholds their side.
09:32This is a plan that they committed to.
09:38Isaac from the Associated Press.
09:40Can you please confirm the targeted person in Beirut?
09:43The statement that I read in the briefing is what I can share with you right now.
09:48Leor Soroka, The Washington Post.
09:50Did Israel inform the United States in advance of today's strike in Lebanon?
09:55What I can share with you on that is that Israel makes decisions independently,
09:59and we do that to our citizens, our soldiers, our security forces.
10:03And in terms of Lebanon, I just read you a statement inside of our briefing
10:07in addition to the other information I provided you with today's strike.
10:14Sassan from NPR.
10:16We know that the Israeli military and Kogat are coordinating with the U.S. at the newly established CMCC.
10:21There have been reports that the U.S. is trying to take the lead on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
10:27Is that true?
10:29I have nothing to add on that right now.
10:31But for updated numbers on humanitarian aid going inside of the Gaza Strip,
10:35you can reach out to Kogat.
10:36They share updated information on X throughout the week.
10:42David Isaac from JNS.
10:44The United States is reportedly planning to build Gazan communities on the Israeli side of the yellow line in the Gaza Strip.
10:50Is that something the Prime Minister endorses?
10:52And if so, what are the benefits from the Israeli perspective,
10:55allowing Gazans to establish themselves closer to the Israeli side?
10:58I don't have anything to share with that right now.
11:01Jody Cohen for Newsmax.
11:02Netanyahu said Israel is determined to achieve its military goals.
11:05Does this mean the ceasefires are on hold for now?
11:09The ceasefire is currently in place.
11:12We have made it clear, and as outlined in this 20-point plan,
11:16Hamas will be disarmed, Gaza will be demilitarized,
11:19and there will be no future of Hamas inside of the Gaza Strip with the ability to govern their own people.
11:26We are committed to all steps of that.
11:28That's clearly outlined inside of the 20-point plan.
11:31Matthew Duran from ABC Australia.
11:36How does the strike on the Hezbollah chief of staff not amount to a breach of the ceasefire by Israel,
11:41given the location of the strike being Beirut, far from the area south of the Litany River,
11:46which is where Hezbollah is meant to disarm and withdraw from?
11:50Matt, I point you back to what I shared specifically on this strike.
11:54Joel Pollack from California Post.
11:56What is Israel's response to allegations of sexual assault by a Hamas terrorist against male hostages?
12:03The testimony that is coming out by our male hostages is critical to hear.
12:09I have seen a lack of reporting by news outlets across the world on what our male hostages have gone through,
12:16what our female hostages have gone through as well.
12:19But recently, of course, these testimonies are horrific to hear.
12:23Our hostages went through absolute hell inside of captivity.
12:27And we will make sure that their stories are not only heard, that they are told, that they are remembered.
12:33Even when media organizations don't want to discuss the abuse that our hostages went through,
12:38we will ensure that their stories get out there.
12:41But it is absolutely horrific to know what these men had to go through for nearly two years.
12:48This just speaks to who Hamas is.
12:50This is a disgusting terror organization.
12:53They brutalize their own people as well.
12:56And this should not be overlooked by the media.
12:59This is the truth.
13:00This is the fact of who Hamas is.
13:02And our hostages are continuously telling their courageous stories, bringing their own courage to their platform, to their own stage,
13:11making sure that people know their story.
13:13And I expect media organizations to tell their stories as well.
13:19Thank you for that question, Joel.
13:21Okay, those are all the questions I see right now.
13:25Everyone, thanks so much for your time.
13:27Please reach out to us if you have additional questions.
Be the first to comment