Gallant: Hamas as ‘military formation’ in Gaza is gone, IDF focus shifting to north

Hamas is no longer an organized military force in the Gaza Strip after Israel’s 11-month ongoing military campaign, sparked by the terror group’s October 7 massacre, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told foreign journalists, Report informs via The Times of Israel.

Later Tuesday, meanwhile, Gallant told troops that the IDF was shifting its focus from Gaza to the northern front, and that they should prepare for a ground offensive there.

“Hamas as a military formation no longer exists. Hamas is engaged in guerrilla warfare and we are still fighting Hamas terrorists and pursuing Hamas leadership,” Gallant told the foreign press, while warning that the window was closing on an opportunity to reach a temporary hostage-ceasefire deal with the Palestinian terror group, which he said could also bring calm to the volatile northern border with Lebanon.

Gallant said that conditions are ripe for at least the first phase of the proposal currently being discussed — a six-week pause in which some 30 women, children, elderly and ailing hostages would be released. However, he would not commit to a permanent end to the fighting, as Hamas has demanded, raising questions about the feasibility of a deal.

“Israel should achieve an agreement that will bring about a pause for six weeks and bring back hostages,” he said. After that period, he said, “we maintain the right to operate and achieve our goals — including the destruction of Hamas.”