• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Press Briefing in English by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari December 12th, 20:15

IDF Press Release

Press Briefing
12.12.23
IDF

I'd like to share an update on Israel's war on Hamas and our Hostage rescue effort:

IDF special forces recovered the bodies of 2 Israeli hostages during a complex hostage rescue operation in Gaza. 27-year-old Eden Zakaria, who was taken hostage by Hamas from the Nova music festival and 36-year-old Command Sergeant Major Ziv Dado who was taken hostage while on active duty. Sadly, we did not reach them in time. We send our heartfelt condolences to their families. Our special forces located the bodies of the hostages inside underground infrastructure — in a densely populated area in Gaza.

Hamas is holding our people hostage in brutal conditions while hiding among and under the people of Gaza. This makes our hostage rescue operation in Gaza complex. But it will not deter us from our mission, our duty, to rescue our hostages from Hamas. Our hostage rescue operation will continue for as long as necessary until all our hostages are home.

For 67 days, women, men, children and babies have been in Hamas captivity in brutal and inhumane conditions. The Red Cross must urgently gain access to our hostages. The hostages in Hamas captivity aren't just Israelis. They are citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Russia, Brazil, Ukraine, Argentina, and other countries. Freeing our hostages from Hamas - is a global fight.

The taking of hostages is a crime against humanity. Hamas blocking the Red Cross from visiting the hostages is cruel and inhumane. Hamas is a barbaric terror group.

Those who claim to value human life must speak out in every forum until every hostage is home.

Thank you.