Israel is ‘close’ to dismantling Hamas in northern Gaza but war will last ‘many months,’ chief warns
Israel’s military chief said Tuesday his forces were “close” to dismantling Hamas in northern Gaza — but warned that the war aimed at stamping out the terrorist group will last “many months.”
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff Herzi Halevi toured the Gaza Strip and spoke with commanders and soldiers, telling reporters that he came away impressed with their efforts.
“The IDF is close to completing the dismantling of the Hamas battalions in the northern Gaza Strip,” Halevi said in a press conference in southern Israel, according to the Times of Israel.
“We eliminated many terrorists and commanders, some of them surrendered to our forces and we took hundreds of prisoners. We destroyed many underground infrastructures and weapons,” he added.
But Halevi noted that his troops may yet encounter Hamas fighters disguised as civilians in this densely populated urban area, and “it cannot be said that we killed all of them,” he said.
Once the last terrorist battalion is wiped out in northern Gaza, the IDF is expected to lower the intensity of fighting there while ramping up military activity in the southern Gaza Strip.
“The war will go on for many months and we will employ different methods to maintain our achievements for a long time,” Halevi warned. “There are no magic solutions, there are no short cuts in dismantling a terrorist organization, only determined and persistent fighting.”
The IDF commander also vowed to eliminate the heads of Hamas, no matter how long it takes.
“We will reach Hamas’ leadership too, whether it takes a week or if it takes months,” Halevi promised.
Israel pledged to crush Hamas after its fighters attacked the country on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages.
The IDF’s air, sea and ground campaign in Gaza has since killed nearly 21,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Health Ministry.
Israel reported Tuesday that 161 of its soldiers have been killed since it launched its ground offensive.
“We said from its first moments that this would be a long war because it was right to set far-reaching goals and we will reach far, that’s why the duration will be long,” Halvei said.
The duration of the conflict will allow the Israeli military to adapt its methods amid a growing international pressure for a cease-fire.
“Ultimately, will we be able to say that there is no enemy surrounding the state of Israel? I think that’s too ambitious, but we will create a new security situation,” said Halevi, adding that the IDF will not allow a repeat of what happened on Oct. 7.
