'We have killed over 900 terrorists in Rafah,' says IDF Chief of Staff Halevi

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi announced on Tuesday that Israeli forces have so far eliminated nearly 1,000 terrorists in Rafah, a southern town in Gaza considered to be Hamas’ last main stronghold.

"We have killed over 900 terrorists in Rafah, including commanders, battalion leaders and numerous operatives. Our ongoing effort is aimed at attriting them while ensuring we remain energized and determined,” Halevi stated while addressing IDF troops positioned at the Kerem Shalom Gaza border crossing.

The Israeli military initiated its operation against Hamas forces in Rafah in early May.

The IDF chief stressed that the goal of the ongoing military operation would take time and its overall goal is to prevent Hamas from reconstituting itself once Israeli soldiers leave the area. 

"The reason we continue to work here week after week is our current effort to destroy infrastructure, including underground facilities, which takes time. This campaign is prolonged because we do not want to leave Rafah with its infrastructure intact. We have killed individuals underground, and others who attempted to escape," Halevi assessed.

Furthermore, the IDF chief emphasized that the Israeli military was prepared to lower the intensity of the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza. 

"As we move to the next phase, we will introduce different methods, new tactics and altered logistical support to suit the stage. All of this focuses on our determination, persistence, and resilience, turning this into a war of attrition against the other side and achieving our objectives. With a lot of willpower, patience and perseverance, the results will speak for themselves in due course," Halevi said. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently noted that Hamas was close to being eliminated as an organized military and political power in Gaza. 

“We are advancing to the end of the stage of eliminating the Hamas terrorist army; we will continue striking its remnants,” Netanyahu said.

The Israeli military estimates it has eliminated at least 15,000 terrorists inside Gaza in addition to more than 1,000 terrorists inside Israel on Oct. 7. In addition, thousands of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists have been severely wounded or captured.

While Israel has decimated much of Hamas’ military capabilities, the IDF has so far failed to reach Hamas’ Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar and his military deputy, Mohammed Deif. The two men are believed to be the masterminds behind the Oct. 7 invasion and massacre of 1,200 Israelis, and kidnapping approximately 250 Israelis and foreign nationals. 

Sinwar and Deif are believed to be in constant motion, hiding inside Hamas’ vast subterranean tunnel system. Israeli forces have reportedly been close to reaching Sinwar on several occasions but so far failed to capture or eliminate him. Sinwar’s location is reportedly a closely guarded secret, with Informed sources allegedly telling the Arab news outlet Asharq Al-Awsat that a small circle of two to three people know the whereabouts of the elusive Hamas leader in Gaza.

“A very small circle of no more than two or three people at most know his whereabouts and provide for his various needs, as well as ensuring his communication with the movement’s leaders inside and outside,” the sources stated. 

Meanwhile, Netanyahu and the top IDF brass clashed publicly after The New York Times claimed Israeli troops were prepared to accept a truce that would leave Hamas in power in Gaza. 

“Anonymous sources briefed The New York Times that Israel will be prepared to end the war before all of its objectives are achieved,” Netanyahu said in a video released by the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday.

“I do not know who these anonymous sources are, but I am here to make it unequivocally clear: This will not happen. The war will end once Israel achieves all of its objectives, including the destruction of Hamas and the release of all of our hostages,” the prime minister pledged.