24Israeli intel possesses data on whereabouts of remaining hostages, reports army spokesman
Israeli intelligence services have information on the presumed location of the remaining hostages, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Jonathan Conricus said at a briefing.
“The short answer would be yes, we have [data],” Conricus said when asked by reporters if the IDF had any information on the purported whereabouts of the remaining hostages. “But as you said, as you correctly suggested, I’m not free to share those details because of the sensitivity of the issue, and of course that would jeopardize our efforts in the future. But I can say that this is a key priority,” he added. Conricus pointed out that the release of the hostages is a top priority for Israeli intelligence, including IDF Military Intelligence. He also noted that Israel intends to return all hostages. “If it can be done through negotiations, that’s great. And if it can’t be done through negotiations, then we will act in other, kinetic ways,” the spokesman emphasized.
Israel’s military operations are not limited to Hamas as it intends to eliminate all military infrastructure that could threaten its people, Jonathan Conricus went on. “Our intention is for there to be no military infrastructure in Gaza that has the ability to threaten Israeli civilians; and that includes Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and then, there are a few others, smaller and even more extreme terror organizations that exist: the Resistance Committees, the Palestinian Liberation Front and a few others,” he noted. “It’s not only Hamas; and we intend for there to be no existent military structure capable of threatening Israelis. The target, of course, and the big center of gravity is Hamas but our operations are not limited to them. We have been engaged with and eliminated Islamic Jihad operatives and commandos since October 7 quite successfully,” Conricus added.
“We intend to continue to do so until they are defeated and again, until we achieve the aim, getting our hostages back, 137 of them, and defeating any military threats that exist and making sure that they won’t have the ability to regroup after the fighting is done,” he concluded.
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