On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he is close to defeating Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He asserted that the war would end with the total annihilation of the group.
In contrast to Netanyahu’s confidence in defeating Hamas, his army spokesman described the elimination of Hamas as impossible.
“I returned yesterday from a tour of the Gaza Division. I saw great achievements in fighting that is being carried out in Rafah. We are nearing the end of the elimination phase of Hamas’s terrorist army. There will be a continuation of hitting its remnants,” said Netanyahu while speaking to cadet soldiers.
After nine months of fighting, the Israeli army has rescued a handful of hostages as opposition to the war continues to grow.
So far, 647 Israeli troops have been killed, with over 2,000 injured.
Regardless of the numerous declarations of Hamas defeat, Israeli soldiers have been compelled to confront Hamas soldiers in the same neighbourhoods earlier claimed to be captured from Hamas.
Hamas group has also launched rockets into southern Israel despite claims by the Israeli military of degrading their military capacity.
Israel has reportedly killed over 37,000 people in Gaza since October 2023, an act for which the International Court of Justice ruled as Israel’s committing genocide.