IDF Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamer said that after the cessation of the combat operation against Iran, Israel will focus its efforts on continuing the war against the Palestinian group Hamas (it is recognised as a terrorist group in the US and the European Union).
Zamer emphasised that the operation against Iran is not over. “We have completed an important stage, but the campaign against Iran is not over. We have set back its nuclear programme by years, the same applies to the missile programme,” the head of the General Staff noted. He said the army’s priorities remain the return of hostages from the Gaza Strip and the elimination of Hamas.
Advisor to the Prime Minister of Israel Dmitry Gendelman said that since 13 June – since the beginning of the operation “People like a lion” against Iran – 28 Israelis have died, about one and a half thousand were injured. According to Gendelman, the Israel Tax Authority has received almost 40 thousand claims for losses, of which more than 30 thousand are related to damage to buildings. 15,500 people lost their homes.
Iran fired 550 rockets and more than a thousand drones at Israel, Gendelman noted.
Iranian authorities said Israeli strikes have killed more than 600 people since the start of the operation, with about five thousand more injured.
Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian said the country would honour the truce unless Israel violated it.
Rallies have been held in Iran under slogans of “victory over Israel”. Iranian authorities believe that Israel was forced to retreat under pressure.
On 24 June, US President Donald Trump said that Iran and Israel had agreed on a truce, but the ceasefire was being violated by both sides.