Half of all Hamas terrorists in Gaza are out of combat, Gallant says

This statement comes after reports showed that IDF's elimination of Hamas forces had been on the decline.

 Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speaks during a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at Israel's Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, Israel December 18, 2023.  (photo credit:  REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura)
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speaks during a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at Israel's Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, Israel December 18, 2023.
(photo credit: REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura)

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke to IDF troops in the Gaza border communities and said, "A quarter of the Hamas terrorists were eliminated, and at least another quarter were wounded," Israeli media reported on Monday.

This statement comes after reports showed that IDF's elimination of Hamas forces had been on the decline.

Up until now, it is estimated that 48-60% of Hamas's forces are out of commission due to being either killed, wounded, or arrested.

Up until now, Israel's war against Hamas has consisted of two main objectives: Eliminating Hamas and releasing the Israeli hostages being held captive in Gaza. 

A military approach to returning hostages home

Prior to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's statement regarding Hamas's elimination, in a press conference earlier this month, he spoke about the hostages, claiming that it was too soon for the Israel-Hamas war to come to a conclusion.

 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant walk to a meeting in the Israeli Ministry of Defense surrounded by security in Tel Aviv, Israel, January 9, 2024.  (credit:  REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool REFILE )
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant walk to a meeting in the Israeli Ministry of Defense surrounded by security in Tel Aviv, Israel, January 9, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool REFILE )

"If the war ends now, the fate of the hostages will be sealed for many years- in Hamas captivity," said Gallant.

“Without military pressure, no one will talk to us; without the military pressure, we will not be able to achieve any agreements – only from a position of strength can we ensure the release of hostages,” he added.

A failed attempt at a hostage deal

Despite Israel's attempts this week to form a deal with Hamas that would allow for further Israeli hostages to be released, the drafted deal fell through on Monday night.

The deal was drafted in Paris, and both Qatar and the US were optimistic about it taking place. However, the deal fell through due to Hamas's rejection.

Hama's reasoning for rejecting the deal at play was that it did not include a permanent ceasefire.


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Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) reiterated that Israel must halt its Gaza offensive and withdraw from the Strip before any prisoner exchange takes place, Hamas said in a statement on Monday.

Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.