PM: Israel close to liquidating Hamas army

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the Israeli army is nearing the elimination of the Palestinian Hamas radical movement in the Gaza Strip, with continued strikes against the remaining militants.

Netanyahu made these comments during a meeting with students from the National Security College of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

"I returned from a visit to ‘Gaza’ army division and witnessed significant achievements in the battles in Rafah. We are close to destroying the Hamas terrorist army, and strikes against the remaining militants will persist," he added.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian militant organisation, has been ongoing for decades, with periodic escalations of violence. Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, is considered a terrorist organisation by Israel, the US, the EU and other countries.

The conflict is characterised by cycles of violence, including rocket attacks by Hamas on Israeli cities and towns, and retaliatory airstrikes and military operations by Israel in the Gaza Strip. The frequent clashes result in significant casualties and destruction, affecting civilians on both sides.

In recent years, there have been several major escalations. In May 2021, violence erupted when Hamas fired rockets towards Jerusalem following tensions over the planned eviction of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem. Israel responded with heavy airstrikes on Gaza, leading to an 11-day conflict that resulted in significant loss of life and infrastructure damage.