In the midst of the current confrontation between Israel and Hamas, Tal Heinrich, a spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), stated that Israel’s issue is with Hamas, not with the Palestinian people. In his remarks, Heinrich stressed the tenacity of Israeli families and the significance of taking action against Hamas. “Their resilience is our strength. The ones who are aching the most are the ones giving us the most strength.”
“Today it is important to highlight what the families told the PM of Israel and what they told the entire nation of Israel, to hold our heads high and to do what must be done against Hamas,” she averred during a virtual press meet on Monday.
“The IDF found evidence of Hamas-produced kidnapper’s guide. Now the guide explains in gruesome detail how Hamas terrorists should capture and torture kidnapped civilians,” continued Heinrich.
She went on to say that the book revealed “gruesome methods” that terrorists from Hamas would use to arrest and torture kidnapped individuals. She added that the fight against Hamas has resulted in more than 1,500 Israeli deaths and 3,900 injuries.
Heinrich elucidated, “Israel is at war with Hamas and not with the people of Palestine.”
Heinrich additionally addressed the circumstances in northern Gaza, noting that while 14 hospitals did not evacuate their patients and personnel, six hospitals did.
“I was asked yesterday specifically about the state of hospitals in northern Gaza. You see, there are 20 hospitals in that area. The IDF says that six hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip had decided to independently evacuate. However, 14 did not,” averred Heinrich.
Heinrich also highlighted information from a United Nations Relief and Works Agency study showing that a group posing as the Gaza Ministry of Health had withdrawn or stolen gasoline and medical supplies.
Heinrich emphasised that encouraging Palestinians to temporarily migrate to safer areas “will save lives” and urged the international community to support this. She referred to Israel’s own evacuation operations, which resulted in the evacuation of more than 80,000 Israeli people and 28 villages in northern Israel.
Heinrich stated that the IDF has carried out multiple airstrikes in the Gaza Strip when speaking about the most recent combat operations. Notably, a strike was also made on Ali Qadhi’s command post, a leader of the Hamas commando forces.
“The targets included Hamas headquarters, mortar launching positions, and a number of terrorists at a military compound,” mentioned Heinrich.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu invited US President Joe Biden to Israel, and we hope to host the president soon.” She expressed appreciation for the coordinated effort against the continued hostilities.