Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari November 1st, 10:10

Good morning,

IDF forces continue to significantly expand ground operations in the Gaza Strip. In northern Gaza, during the night, significant battles took place, one of which was conducted surrounding a multi-story building in the area of Jabaliya from which terrorists shot at our forces. This building, like many locations that Hamas terrorists use as shelter, is a civilian structure, located in close proximity to a school, medical center and government offices. IDF soldiers directed aircraft to strike the threat, eliminating the terrorists. 

As we published yesterday, we eliminated the Commander of the Jabaliya Battalion, Ibrahim Biari. He was a murderous commander who was  responsible for a significant area from which the terrorists emerged to carry out the massacre in Israel on October 7th, but beyond his leadership of that, he was a senior terrorist who has been the dominant leader of their military activity during this war in northern Gaza. We have killed him. 

He was killed while situating himself inside the Jabaliya Camp - with dozens of additional terrorists arround him in the same area - which contains a headquarters and other operational facilities located in buildings within the civilian camp. The strike caused the collapse of the buildings compound within the civilian camp. The strike on the compound additionally caused the collapse of the underground military infrastructure, including terror tunnels under the camp, which further caused the collapse of additional structures. 

These once again demonstrate how murderous terrorists use civilians as a ‘human shield’, civilians whom we have called upon to evacuate for their own safety. This is a cynical tactic that they have, and will continue, to employ. During the fighting, Sinwar and all of Hamas’ senior officials are attempting to manufacture images of a destroyed Gaza and dead Gazans at the hands of Israel and the IDF. 

They failed to hide their true faces, they themselves are bringing disaster to Gaza.  IDF soldiers are heroically fighting on the battlefield and eliminating terrorists. Our soldiers are conducting face-to-face battles and are advancing towards our goals. This morning, we were notified of additional IDF soldiers who fell in defense of the State of Israel.  The IDF sends its condolences to the families and will continue to support them.

In the North, we are prepared with a high level of readiness to provide a strong defensive and offensive response. This is also seen in the wide-scale defensive deployment of the IDF in the Northern Command, which has continued the same way it has throughout the war.

Every terrorist cell that comes to the area or tries to infiltrate Israel or shoot at our territory will be stopped and eliminated. Every terrorist cell, and we will continue to do so. The Air Force maintains a very high level of readiness and deployment, and the Intelligence Directorate is ready and watching the north for every scenario. 

Red Sea

During the night, we intercepted an aerial threat detected in the Red Sea region, South of Eilat. There was no ultimate threat to civilians as there was no entry into Israeli airspace.

We maintain a high level of readiness in this arena as well. We have sent additional
Israeli Navy vessels to provide significant defense of the area and layered strike capabilities with defensive layers and the air force. We are prepared to defend this arena as in every arena in Israel. We know how to gather at the time and place of our choosing in relations to the security interests of Israel wherever needed. 

Homefront

The adherence of the Israeli civilians to the instructions of the Southern Command saves lives. We repeat and are continuing to ask you to follow the instructions and to look at the website to see where educational institutions will be reopened together with the local authorities to allow for routine life to continue during the war. These instructions allow for routine life to continue and you can find each of the authorities on the website. We will not compromise on the safety of civilians. This is the most important thing of all. 

Until now, we have notified the families of 240 hostages. We are committed to the national mission, a top priority, to bring everyone home. We sent a message to the families of 326 fallen IDF soldiers, combat soldiers who made a decisive contribution to Israel's security. We are very strong, thanks to them, we will win.

We embrace the families and we will continue to support them. Our hearts are also with the families of the injured. I wish them, we wish them, a speedy recovery. I call again, like yesterday, to act responsibly and avoid spreading rumors.

Please take responsibility and avoid this, including regarding operations security, and protect our forces, our forces that are operating and fighting, this creates public distress. We promise to give you the most accurate and reliable information as quickly as possible. However, we have to wait to first inform the families before anything is published and this must be respected. 

We are committed to doing this. This is our responsibility to the public. Stick to the reliable information that is published by the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit on every platform, which we have expanded now as well.