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Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson BG Effie Defrin-September 4, 2025

Israel Defense Forces

September 4, 2025

04.09.25
IDF

In recent weeks, we began Phase II of Operation Gideon's Chariots. This week, we began mobilizing tens of thousands of reservists to advance the strikes against Hamas in Gaza City.

The reservists serve as reinforcement support for the conscripted troops and are currently operating together with the troops on the ground.

As part of the expansion of Operation Gideon's Chariots, IDF troops under the Southern Command are operating inside Gaza City. Troops from the 99th Division, including the combat teams of the Nahal Brigade and the 7th Brigade, are operating in the Zaytun area, while Division 162 troops, including the combat teams of the 401st Brigade and the Givati Brigade, are operating on the outskirts of the Shuja'iya Sheikh Radwan area, northern Gaza City.

We continue to firmly strike Hamas' terror infrastructure. On the screen, you can see an example of an underground area being dismantled in the Zaytun area, which I remind you is inside Gaza City. Today, we have operational control of 40 percent of Gaza City.

The operation will continue to expand and intensify in the coming days.

Hamas will face the IDF in full power in Gaza City. We will increase the pressure on Hamas until its decisive defeat. We will continue to pursue them everywhere.

Last week, the IDF and the ISA struck and eliminated the spokesman of the military wing and head of the propaganda apparatus of the Hamas terrorist organization, Hudahaifa Kahlout, who called himself Abu Obaidah.

Kahlout was an arch-terrorist and a symbol of the Hamas terrorist organization, one of the last senior leaders remaining from the original leadership that carried out the brutal massacre on October 7th.

He was responsible for spreading the horrors of October 7th. He distributed cameras to his terrorists and personally documented and disseminated the horrific images of the murderous attack.

On the screen, you can see a photo found in the Gaza Strip, revealed now.

In the photo, Abu Obaidah is seen alongside the head of Hamas' military wing Mohammed Deif, the commander of the Khan Younis Brigade Raf Alma, and the head of the intelligence staff of the military wing Mohammed Odeh, the only one still alive - and we will reach him as well.

This is further evidence of Abu Obaidah's senior standing within Hamas' leadership. We will pursue and reach all of them, everywhere, near or far.

Alongside the expanding operation in the Gaza Strip, the IDF continues to operate in all arenas. In recent days, in a precise operation, IDF fighter jets struck targets at a distance further than 2,000 kilometers from Israel.

The Prime Minister of the Houthi terrorist regime, Ahmad al-Rawu, was eliminated along with about ten other senior figures in the leadership of the Houthi terrorist regime.

The fate of the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff of the terrorist organization remains unknown as of now.

Let there be no confusion: these were heads of a terrorist organization who planned and carried out terrorist attacks and launched missiles at population centers in Israel.

From the strike in Sanaa to the elimination in Gaza, a clear line connects them - none of the leaders of the terrorist organizations and terrorists in the Middle East will be out of reach.

Last Friday, in a special and complex rescue operation, we recovered the bodies of the hostages and fallen, Ilan Weiss and Idan Shtivi, who were abducted and murdered by Hamas terrorists. We share in the grief of their families and embrace them.

Since the beginning of Operation Gideon's Chariots, the IDF recovered the bodies of ten hostages from Gaza, men and women. To all the families of the hostages, both living and fallen, I want to state most clearly: the Southern Command, its commander, soldiers, and officers, together with the hostages and Missing Persons Headquarters, the Intelligence Directorate, and the ISA, are investing tremendous efforts, turning over every stone to bring the hostages home. We will continue to do everything to return them.

The IDF will continue to expand the strikes against Hamas in Gaza City. In the coming days, the mobilization of reservists will continue. I want to address the reservists and their families: we are aware of the burden placed upon you for almost two years. We will act to allow breathing room alongside the continued operation. The determination and spirit you bring with you enable the IDF to continue carrying out its missions. We all salute you.

The mission is not yet complete. We will continue to operate professionally and with responsibility in all arenas of operation until all the war's objectives are achieved, first and foremost, the return of the hostages and the dismantling of Hamas' rule.