IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi gave a statement to the media from the border with Gaza, saying: "The IDF is still fighting in the various arenas. We are in the days of realizing one of the most important goals of the war, the return of the hostages." Halevi added: "The IDF's main mission is to defend the country, and we failed in that. I carry this with me and will carry it with me for the rest of my life." According to him: "The goal of the IDF investigation is to learn whether the force failed or succeeded. Right at the beginning of the war, we initiated investigations in the IDF that were carried out in an unprecedented manner during the war."