IDF conducts large exercise in preparation for next Gaza war July 31, 2019(IDF Spokesperson's Office)(IDF Spokesperson's Office)IDF conducts large exercise in preparation for next Gaza war Tweet WhatsApp Email https://worldisraelnews.com/idf-conducts-large-exercise-in-preparation-for-next-gaza-war/ Email Print The IDF chief of staff said he was impressed by the high-state of readiness at the conclusion of the exercise.By World Israel News StaffThe IDF completed a four-day exercise named “Four Seasons” on Wednesday designed to prepare it for the next clash with the terrorist-run Gaza Strip.At the conclusion of the exercise, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi said he was “impressed by the preparedness which was of a very, very high level.”“We’re not going to let the calm confuse us,” Kochavi said. “We will continue with the process of preparation on the assumption that from within Gaza a clash can burst forth any day.” He tweeted a similar message on Wednesday. “We have strengthened our preparedness for a possible campaign in Gaza…which could break out any day.” – LTG Kohavi, Chief of General StaffWe just completed a large-scale exercise to improve our readiness for combating any threat posed by Hamas & Islamic Jihad in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/ESCIoV0GwR— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 31, 2019 Israel media report that the IDF’s plan in the event of a confrontation with Hamas in Gaza, (generally viewed by defense officials as inevitable) is not to destroy the terror group, but to hit it with a strong blow.Read 12 US lawmakers demand probe into IDF Lebanon strikeThis was the policy in Operation Protective Edge (2014) and Operation Pillar of Defense (2012). However, Ma’ariv reports that unlike in the case of at least one of those operations, Protective Edge, which focused on destroying terror tunnels, the IDF is preparing to move against a broader range of terrorist targets, including Hamas’ chain of command.(IDF Spokesperson’s Office)In recent months, a significant number of IDF battalions have been assigned to take part in fighting terror groups in the Gaza Strip, training in a series of exercises, Ynet reports.The exercises are part of Chief of Staff Kochavi’s plan “to improve the competence and adapt operational plans to the possibility of a major military operation in the Gaza Strip,” says Ma’ariv. gaza stripHamasIDF