The IDF did everything in its power to avoid civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip during Operation Guardian of the Walls, head of the IDF Operations Directorate Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliwa said Sunday.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Speaking at a ceremony to welcome a new IDF spokesperson, Haliwa said, "During Operation Guardian of the Walls against Hamas infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, the IDF fired five very expensive missiles, some of the most advanced we have. While they were in the air, we received new, updated intelligence, which made it unclear whether combatants were at the target site. We opted to divert the missiles toward the sea, just so there wouldn't be any doubt. We held our fire at the last minute," Haliwa said.
According to Haliwa, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit is "our way of maintaining the high level of trust that is tested time and again between the IDF and the Israeli public, the IDF and the people. Our connection to the people and the IDF's purpose as the army of the people."
The ceremony, held at the Aviv Camp, welcomed Brig. Gen. Ran Kochav to the role of IDF Spokesperson, replacing outgoing Brig. Gen. Hidai Zilberman, who after a year and nine months in the role has been appointed military attaché to Washington and promoted to the rank of major-general.
Zilberman said that his time as spokesperson for the IDF had "proven the power of words and the meaning of narrative. The secret of the campaign is its ability to connect people, stories, and experiences – victories and failures, and turn them into the IDF's story, which is our story."
Kochav told participants in the event that "At a time when the media arena is changing, anyone can type and no one chooses their words carefully on social media, the influence of the IDF Spokesperson's Unit is growing – as is the responsibility we bear.
"As someone who came up through the Israeli Air Force, I have traded missiles for words to in order to make my contribution to outreach efforts. The IDF Spokesperson's Unit is the vanguard that maintains the public's trust – the most valuable asset of the people's army," he said.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
