According to a report by Times of Israel, on Oct 10, 2025, Israeli Defense Forces Spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin delivered an emotional address at a press conference as the Gaza ceasefire took effect, visibly moved as he reflected on two years of conflict and declared that Hamas has been fundamentally degraded as a military threat.
Fighting back tears, Defrin described the ceasefire as “an emotional moment for the people of Israel and for the IDF troops and soldiers who have fought and acted over the past two years with courage, bravery, and out of a sense of mission and dedication.”
The spokesman presented details of the IDF’s current deployment throughout Gaza under the ceasefire agreement, emphasizing that Israeli forces remain on high alert.
He assured that troops “will act to eliminate any threat to their security, no risks will be taken.”
“We will do everything possible to protect the security of the residents of the western Negev, the south and the entire country,” Defrin pledged, addressing concerns about border communities that have suffered repeated attacks.
Reflecting on the origins of the conflict, Defrin acknowledged a painful national trauma. “On the morning of Simchat Torah, about two years ago, on October 7, the most important contract with the citizens of Israel was violated.
We weren’t there for Israeli citizens at their most difficult time,” he stated, referencing the intelligence and security failures that allowed the initial Hamas attack.
However, the spokesman emphasized the military’s transformation since that dark day.
“Since then, under the leadership of the Southern Command, along with all wings and directorates of the IDF, we have not stopped for a moment, and we never will. A brave generation of Israel’s heroes stands firm as a barrier between the citizens of Israel and every enemy,” he declared.
When questioned about whether Hamas continues to pose a significant threat to Israel, Defrin offered a definitive assessment of the militant group’s diminished capabilities.
“Hamas today is not the Hamas of two years ago; Hamas has been defeated everywhere we fought it,” he stated confidently.