Israel Defense Forces ✔

IDF: Commander of the Southern Command: “In this war, we carry a torch of light and good, and we are fighting a great war against darkness and evil. In the face of false claims, we will present facts; to difficult questions, we will respond honestly; and when a failure is revealed, we will examine, learn, and correct. Our belief in the righteousness of our path requires this of us as well” A ceremony marking the start of the Hebrew year was held today (Tuesday), led by the Commander of the Southern Command, MG Yaniv Asor, with the participation of division-level commanders, brigade-level commanders, heads of local authorities in the western Negev, and additional commanders. From the remarks of the Commander of the Southern Command, MG Yaniv Asor: “Almost three years have passed since that terrible morning, the Shabbat of Simchat Torah. The rupture was terrible; the disaster was immense. War is a difficult phenomenon, and it requires faith in the righteousness of the path. And we are right. We carry a torch of light and good, and we are fighting a great war against darkness and evil. Hamas prepared itself in the heart of a population that supports it, sympathizes with it, and identifies with it. Hamas is not a "foreign entity" in Gaza. It grew from within it, developed and was educated there, inside a radical and murderous Islamic culture. And yes, there are also those there who oppose its path, but they are unable to influence reality. Throughout this war, we insist on maintaining the integrity of our own conduct: distinguishing between the enemy and those who are not involved in hostilities, striking the enemy and thwarting the enemy, while at the same time doing everything in our power to minimize harm to those who are not involved. It benefits if civilians are harmed, and it benefits if our efforts to avoid harming them constrain our ability to strike its operatives. In the face of false claims, we will present facts; To difficult questions, we will respond honestly. And when a failure is revealed among us, we will examine, learn, and correct. Our faith in the justness of our cause requires this of us as well. This is not a declaration of our perfection, but a binding commitment in every order and every decision, and also in the courage to examine ourselves and correct what must be corrected. Today, we are operating in the area of the Yellow Line in order to distance the threat, thwart terrorists and terrorist infrastructure, and prevent Hamas from rebuilding its capabilities. We have struck its tunnel network, weapons, and weapons-production infrastructure, and we will continue to pursue and remove every threat posed to Israeli citizens.