Israel close to accomplishing objectives in Gaza, says IDF

Telegraph

6 hours ago

Israel is close to accomplishing its current objectives in Gaza, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Their claim comes amid reports that ceasefire prospects between Israel and Hamas are improving, again raising hopes that the 20-month conflict could come to an end.
The White House is putting increasing pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, to bring an end to the war, which began when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7 2023.
Also suggesting an end is in sight, Qatar, who have mediated ceasefire talks, urged Israel and Hamas to take the 'window of opportunity' for a new hostage deal in the wake of the end of Israel's 12-day war with Iran.
Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, the IDF chief of staff, said on Friday that Israel's operation would soon 'reach the lines' defined by the government, which would see the military assert control over 75 per cent of Gaza territory.
'In the near future, we will reach the lines we defined for the current phase within the framework of Gideon's Chariots,' Mr Zamir said during a visit to the Gaza Strip.
The IDF's operational plans for Gideon's Chariots, reported by The Times of Israel, had indicated that it would take two months to capture 75 per cent of Gaza.
Now the government will need to decide if it pushes for full control or ends the operation, analysts have said, with the options expected to be put to the cabinet on Sunday.
'From there, operational options will develop that will be presented to the political echelon,' said Mr Zamir, adding that the IDF 'will continue to act with determination to achieve the two objectives of the campaign, the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas.'
Mr Netanyahu has so far said only that Israel would carry on in its attacks until it had completely destroyed Hamas, and Right-wing members of his coalition – upon whom he relies in order to govern – have called for him to seize full control of the Strip.
However, Donald Trump, the US president, is pushing Israel to conclude its offensive following what he has deemed a successful 12-day war against Iran.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Mr Trump suggested that a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal would be reached 'within the next week', having said earlier in the week that 'great progress' had been made in ceasefire talks.
Mr Netanyahu may calculate that he must keep Mr Trump onside and therefore work towards a deal, secure the release of the remaining Gaza hostages, and call an election in an attempt to capitalise on a bump in popularity in the wake of the war with Iran.
Mr Zamir also said of Israel's war with Iran: 'Iran took a heavy blow. There is potential that the blow caused to Iran will advance our goals in Gaza,' he said.
Gaza mediators are engaging with Israel and Hamas to build on momentum from the ceasefire with Iran and work towards a truce in the Palestinian territory, Majed al-Ansari, a Qatar foreign ministry spokesman, said.
'If we don't utilise this window of opportunity and this momentum, it's an opportunity lost amongst many in the near past. We don't want to see that again,' said Mr Ansari, who is also an adviser to Qatar's prime minister.
An official with knowledge of the situation said that Ron Dermer, the Israeli minister for strategic affairs, would arrive in Washington next week for talks on a Gaza ceasefire, Iran and other subjects.
Mr Zamir's comments came the day before Israeli strikes killed at least 62 people across Gaza, according to reports from inside the Hamas-run territory.
Three children and their parents were killed in an Israeli strike on a tent camp in Muwasi near the southern city of Khan Younis. They were struck while sleeping, relatives said.
'What did these children do to them? What is their fault?' said Suad Abu Teima, the children's grandmother, as reported by the Associated Press.
Also among the dead were 12 people near the Palestine Stadium in Gaza City, which was sheltering displaced people, and eight more in apartments, according to staff at Shifa hospital. More than 20 bodies were taken to Nasser hospital, according to health officials.
The war has killed over 56,000 Palestinians, according to the health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. It said more than half of the dead were women and children, and that they included 6,089 people killed since the end of the latest ceasefire.
Hamas massacred more than 1,200 Israelis, and took 254 hostages inside Gaza. About 50 remain in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive.