IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir conducted a field tour and situational assessment in the 80th Division, together with Southern Command Chief Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asur and other commanders. "We are operating in all arenas, both near and far, facing complex threats that are emerging before us," Zamir said. He added that "we must be prepared at every border and in every sector for an erupting terror threat that might confront us." Referring to the southern sector, he said, "In the Negev, security and settlement are interconnected. This is a clear principle that guides our actions."

