Israeli army chief General Herzi Halevi said on Tuesday that the Hamas terrorist group ‘regrets’ which launched a war against Israel while admitting that the expected ground attack is being delayed for “strategic reasons”.

“Israel is in the middle of a war which was started by the terrorist organization Hamas. Hamas is already regretting it,” Halevi said characteristically at a press conference near the Gaza border.

“We have prepared for this. The IDF and the Southern Command they have prepared “quality” offensive plans to achieve the goals of the war,” he said according to the Times of Israel.

“The IDF is ready for the maneuver [εδάφους] and we will make a decision with the political echelon about shape and timing of the next stage” he noted.

There are, Herchi Halevi admitted, “tactical and even strategic factors” which delay the ground attack but allow the IDF to prepare better.

“We use every minute to be even more prepared. And every minute that passes on the other side, we hit the enemy even more. Killing terrorists, destroying infrastructure, gathering more information for the next stage,” he pointed out.

“What happened [σ.σ. στις 7 Οκτωβρίου, με τη σφαγή 1.400 Ισραηλινών από τη Χαμάς] is unprecedented asince the foundation of the state. It will require a fundamental change in our security reality. There will be a cost to this, including of the duration of the war” clarified the general.

“This war has an address: The leadership of Hamas and all who acted under its orders. They will pay the price for what they did” he said.

“The IDF is fighting Hamas, they are not fighting the population of Gaza. The Israeli army wants the residents of Gaza to get through this war as unscathed as possible,” hence Israel is urging residents to evacuate to safe areas, where they will find food, water and medicine.

“Every resident of Gaza should make the responsible decision [να απομακρυνθεί] for the sake of his life” underlined.

Where civilians need fuel, Israel will ensure it is available. “We will not allow fuel for Hamas, with which Israel can continue to fight,” added Halevi.