Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi on Monday evening published a joint statement at the start of a security assessment, and commented on reports that the trust between the IDF and the Prime Minister had been undermined.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “I am here at a security assessment with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi. We are working together as an iron fist for one objective – to eliminate Hamas.”
“We back each other and we back the IDF – our soldiers and our commanders. I want the citizens of Israel to know something else: We make the decisions here and in the War Cabinet unanimously. We do so with great responsibility. We do so with deep awareness. We are fighting together and we will win together, only together," added the Prime Minister.
Defense Minister Gallant added, "In recent days, I have been on visits and inspections around the country. I have met with soldiers in the north, in the Ground Forces, the Navy and the Air Force. I have met reservists and conscripts. All of these soldiers are very determined to carry out their missions. They are undergoing a thorough and lengthy preparation process. They are ready for their missions.”
“I specially note the commanders, from junior officers up to the Chief-of-Staff, who have been doing excellent work during the war and are ready to continue it.”
“I welcome the formation of the War Cabinet. I think it is a blessing for the State of Israel and for the people of Israel. It is a message of unity for all of us here in the country and to our enemies ahead of the difficult stages that await us in the war," said Gallant.
Chief of Staff Halevi concluded, "We are conducting a war. I have seen that the forces in the field are ready and prepared. We discuss complex issues here every evening. The political leadership and the IDF are holding substantive discussions. We see only one thing – the security of the State of Israel."
Earlier on Monday, the Prime Minister's Office, the Defense Ministry and the IDF Spokesperson published a joint statement which said, “The Prime Minister, the Defense Minister and the IDF Chief of Staff are working in close and full cooperation, around the clock, to lead the State of Israel to a decisive victory over Hamas.”
“There is total and mutual trust between the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister and the IDF Chief of Staff; the unity of the goal is clear. The media is requested to show responsibility and refrain from false reports that only harm our unity and our forces,” the statement added.