"To date, we have eliminated 17 out of the 24 battalions. Most of the remaining battalions are in the southern Gaza Strip and in [the city of] Rafah, and we will get to them as well," Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting.
To achieve the goal, Israel needs to complete the "cleaning" of the remaining Hamas forces and completely destroy the movement's underground infrastructure, the Israeli prime minister added.
"Our forces are busy with that at all sites, and it requires even more time," Netanyahu said.
He also stated that Israel would not agree to a hostage release deal "at any cost," ruling out the possibility of Palestinian "terrorists" being freed from prisons in exchange for hostages.
On October 7, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages.
In December 2023, the IDF has completed its its operation in the southern part of Gaza City and expanded a combat zone to the central Gaza Strip. The goal of the operation is to establish operational control over the area between the north of the enclave and its central regions, as per the Israeli forces statement.
During the operation, IDF brigades uncovered numerous weapons, including rocket launchers and explosives, and motorcycles. The operation also destroyed tunnel shafts, some of which contained significant water and electricity infrastructure, according to the statement.