“We have finished dismantling the Hamas military structure in the north of the Gaza Strip,” army spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters.
He added that at the moment, Palestinian militants operate only episodically and without commanders in the area.
“The focus now is on dismantling Hamas in central and southern Gaza,” he said, acknowledging that the task would take time.
Israel has vowed to crush the enclave’s ruling Hamas group following its militants carried out the deadliest attack in the Jewish state’s history on October 7. According to official data, regarding 1,140 people were killed, mostly civilians.
According to Israel, the militants also took regarding 250 hostages, of whom 132 remain in captivity.
In response, Israel bombed the area and sent in ground forces, killing at least 22,722 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
Regarding the military effort to dismantle Hamas in the central and southern parts of the Gaza Strip, Hagari said it would be done differently, but did not elaborate.
“The refugee camps in central Gaza are overcrowded and full of terrorists,” he said. – It takes time.”
The large city of Chan Yunis in the south has a complex network of underground tunnels, he said.
Earlier on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government had ordered the military to destroy Hamas, return all hostages and ensure the Gaza Strip never once more poses a threat to Israel.
“The war cannot be ended until all objectives are achieved,” he said in a statement.
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2024-07-07 01:26:14