Defense Minister Israel Katz visited Rafah in southern Gaza Strip along with Tourism Minister and Acting Construction and Housing Minister Haim Katz. Minister Katz told the soldiers that "the maneuver is aimed at achieving two goals - to bring back the hostages and to ensure Hamas will not be here. We will not let go of this goal. Killing the enemy, returning the hostages and winning - that's our mission and there's no chance we'll give it up, no chance we'll compromise on it. We understand the price that has been paid. I see the materials all the time, you probably see them too: Hamas has not changed, it constantly wants to return to what it did and destroy."