Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy confirmed today (Saturday) that the army will resume its operations in the Gaza Strip immediately after the end of the temporary humanitarian truce with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).

A statement by the Israeli military spokesman quoted Halevy as saying, "We will return as soon as the ceasefire ends to attack and maneuver in Gaza. We will dismantle Hamas and exert very great pressure to return the largest possible number of kidnapped persons as quickly as possible."

Regarding the issue of detainees, Halevy said, "Yesterday (Friday) we completed the procedures for the return of the first group of captive women and children, but today, after a few hours, I hope that the second batch will arrive."

A temporary humanitarian truce with Qatari-Egyptian mediation entered into force yesterday in the Gaza Strip at seven in the morning local time, and will continue for four days. It includes a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, which completed the first prisoner exchange on Friday since the war began on October 7th.