IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz. Photo: Cpl. Shay Wagner, IDF Spokesperson's Unit via Wikimedia Commons.

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz told troops last week that they must remember to be considerate during their extensive campaign in Judea and Samaria to locate three Israeli teenagers kidnapped by terror group Hamas.

“Behave accordingly when you enter houses; when you walk through the villages, because this too is important. We are not just fighters; we are first and foremost human beings,” he told soldiers preparing to deploy in Operation Brother’s Keeper.

“Remember that there are also innocent people who live here. Most of them have no connection the the event,” he added. “But we will act decisively; whether or not they are involved until we find the boys and bring them back.”

Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frankel, both 16, and Eyal Yifrah, 19, were abducted in the West Bank on June 13. Overall, 320 Palestinians have been arrested by the IDF over the past week as part of their widespread campaign against Hamas.

Gantz referred to the kidnapping as “a very serious incident for us” and also told the soldiers to act “as if each of these boys is a member of our family.”

“Each one of these boys is a member of your team; your company; your battalion,” he said.

Watch Gantz speak to troops in Operation Brother’s Keeper in the video below: