IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi conducted a field tour and situation assessment in northern Gaza Strip, addressing the launch of Operation 'Gideon's Chariots': 'We will continue until we defeat the enemy. We cannot return to October 7. We have two main objectives before us: returning the hostages and defeating Hamas.' The Chief of Staff also addressed the hostage return issue, emphasizing that 'The IDF will allow flexibility to the political echelon to advance any hostage deal. A hostage deal is not a halt - but an achievement. We are working towards this.'