Operation Brothers Return: IDF reducing military activity

On the 12th day since the kidnapping of the boys in Gush Etzion, Operation Brothers Return focuses on intelligence operations and scans, and less Hamas infrastructure fight.

Starting in the afternoon (Tuesday), the IDF began to remove barriers placed in Hebron, and to drastically reduce their activity against Hamas. Meanwhile, Palestinian police - not seen since the operation began – returned to the streets of Hebron.

Security forces continue to scan large areas north - west of Hebron, to locate the hostages and those responsible for the attack. Last night four people were arrested, much less than the nights have passed since the operation began.

לחץ כאן לצפייה בסלולר ובטאבלטים


Nahal Brigade headquarters, erected in the beginning of the operation, was replaced with 401 Armoured Brigade Headquarters. However, replacement is not done to reinforce the tanks, but the commanders and soldiers.

Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz visited the Battalion "backlog" of the Givati Brigade fighters in Judea, and heard them on the operational activities in 12 days as part of Operation Brothers Return.

"As time passes concern is increasing, but for us, as a working hypothesis they are still alive," said the chief of staff after a visit to the troops. "We are in the midst of the operation to find the hostages, together with all the security. We will continue with the action as necessary while harming Hamas in Judea and Samaria. "

Defense Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon, spoke today about the decrease in operational activities against Hamas, explaining that there is a decision by the political echelon. "Operation against Hamas began arresting dozens of Hamas members and closing facilities and many properties of Hamas, and as time passed it down to dozens of individual and individual arrests last night," said the minister.

"The operation will continue as long as needed, and it's not about the guidelines of the political leadership," he stressed, and stressed that the army invests the best resources and the best units in locating the hostages and kidnappers. "This is a matter of time until we get to the kidnappers and the kidnapped boys, but required patience and patience, we are in the right direction, we will end up solving the mystery and I hope we can return the kidnapped in peace."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!