IDF Southern Command Chief Defends Gaza War, Vows Accountability

Major General Yaniv Asor, head of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Southern Command, defended the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza, nearly three years after the October 7th attacks. Speaking at a ceremony in the Eshkol Regional Council, Asor acknowledged the immense trauma and broken trust caused by the Hamas assault, stating, "The fracture was terrible, the catastrophe immense, your trust in us was broken and the personal security of the citizens of Israel was severely undermined." He emphasized the military's duty to examine its failures and implement corrections.

Asor framed the conflict as a fight against "darkness and evil," asserting Israel's right as a "democratic, moral, and ethical" state to combat a terrorist organization bent on its destruction. He described Hamas as deeply embedded within Gazan society, growing within a "radical and murderous Islamic culture," and noted that while opponents of Hamas exist in Gaza, they lack influence.

Addressing accusations against the IDF, Asor stated that Israeli forces strive to differentiate between combatants and civilians and minimize civilian casualties, contrasting this with Hamas's alleged use of human shields. "In the face of false accusations, we will present the facts. To difficult questions, we will answer honestly. And when a failure is discovered within us, we will examine it, learn from it, and correct it," he pledged, adding that belief in the righteousness of their cause compels this accountability.

He also denounced efforts to damage the IDF's image abroad and sow doubt within Israeli society. On the ground, Asor reported that IDF forces are now operating from within Gaza, establishing a new defensive line along the "yellow line" to eliminate threats and prevent Hamas from rebuilding its capabilities. He mentioned strikes targeting Hamas's tunnel network, weapons caches, and production infrastructure.

Asor concluded by assuring residents of the western Negev that the army's mission is to ensure their safety and enable them to live, work, and prosper, vowing, "We are here to guarantee, with humility and total commitment, that never, ever again."