During a field visit to the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir confirmed that the Israeli army is continuing what he described as "operational pressure and tightening the noose on Hamas as much as necessary."

Zamir warned that the occupation army may take a "more forceful and significant step" if there is no progress on the issue of returning the Israeli detainees, saying, "If we do not see progress in returning the detainees, we will expand our activity until we reach a decisive decision."

Zamir held Hamas fully responsible for the outbreak of the current war, accusing it of "cruelly detaining" Israeli prisoners, and pointing out that it is "responsible for the difficult situation facing the population of Gaza."

He added, "Hamas is wrong in its assessment of our capabilities, intentions, and determination, just like Nasrallah and his leadership group," referring to the leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah group, in the context of threats directed at regional parties supporting Hamas.