Defense Minister Says Israel Has Eliminated 60% of Hamas Fighters

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said today that the Israeli Army "eliminated or injured 60%" of Hamas fighters, after nine months of war in the Gaza Strip, considering it a military "success".

The conflict between Israel and Hamas entered its tenth month last Sunday.

“There have been many successes,” declared Yoav Gallant from the Knesset rostrum, the Israeli Parliament.

The Army is currently operating in several sectors of the Gaza Strip and, in recent days, has intensified the offensive in Gaza City.

At the beginning of January, however, the minister announced that he had "completed the dismantling of the military structure" of Hamas in the north of the Palestinian territory, where the city is located, before launching ground operations in the center and south of the enclave.

"We have eliminated or injured 60% of Hamas terrorists," said Gallant, assuring that Israeli forces have "dismantled the vast majority" of Hamas battalions and that "[Israeli] soldiers have been fighting for nine months with dedication, sacrifice and success." .

Asked by Agence France-Presse (AFP) about the number of fighters corresponding to the percentage presented by the minister, the Israeli Army said it was verifying the information.

The Ministry of Defense also did not immediately clarify the percentage.

"We brought back half of the hostages and we are determined to bring the rest," added the Minister of Defense, referring to the 116 of the 251 people kidnapped on October 7, 2023 and who remain detained in Gaza, according to the Army Israeli. "The entire security apparatus is determined to fulfill the war objectives" set by Israel, said Gallant, namely eradicating Hamas and freeing the hostages, 42 of whom have already died.

After months of fruitless negotiations over a ceasefire, a source close to the talks said the heads of the United States (CIA) and Israeli intelligence services are expected today in Doha, Qatar.

Hostilities were triggered on October 7 by an unprecedented attack by Hamas against Israel, which caused the deaths of 1,195 people on the Israeli side, most of them civilians, according to an AFP count based on official data.

Israel's retaliatory military campaign has devastated the Gaza Strip, killing 38,295 people, most of them civilians, according to the Hamas Health Ministry in the Palestinian enclave.