Exclusive; Warning from Israeli Army Spokesperson: Any 'Attack and Aggression' Will Be Met with Our Firm Response

The Persian-speaking spokesperson for the Israeli Army, in an interview with Voice of America, refrained from confirming or denying Israel's involvement in the killing of Reza Mousavi, a high-ranking official of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Syria. He stated that any attack on Israel's borders would face a decisive response from the Israeli Army. The Iranian government has attributed the killing of Reza Mousavi, a senior IRGC member responsible for sending weapons to pro-Iranian militias in Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon, to Israel and has threatened retaliatory action against the country. Kamel Panahasi, the Persian-speaking spokesperson for the Israeli Army, emphasized that any aggression towards Israel's borders, particularly from the Iranian regime and its proxy groups, would be met with a 'hard and decisive' response. This Israeli official expressed skepticism regarding casualty figures released by Hamas and Islamic Jihad concerning the number of casualties and injuries in Gaza. Gaza officials, controlled by Hamas, claim that at least 20,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Israeli attacks. The Israeli Army spokesperson pointed out that initial reports of an attack on a Gaza hospital attributed to Israel were later found to be exaggerated, with actual casualties being much lower than reported by local officials. Following a missile strike on the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, Hamas initially accused Israel of the attack, but subsequent investigations indicated that 'the explosion was caused by Palestinian groups and the casualty figures were much lower than those reported by Hamas officials.' The spokesperson noted that over 80 days into the conflict, 129 residents, mostly civilians, remain held captive by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and no international bodies, including the Red Cross, have been able to meet with these captives to assess their condition. He emphasized that Israel's efforts are focused on the well-being of these individuals and their return to their families and country. The spokesperson accused Hamas members of misusing humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza, claiming they exploit fuel, medical supplies, and food for 'subversive objectives.'