Israel’s Defense Minister Highlights Success in Gaza in Call With U.S. Secretary of Defense

Latest Developments

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant highlighted Israel’s successful operations against Hamas terrorists and allied groups in Gaza during a call with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on July 16. Gallant observed that “IDF operations in Gaza have led to the conditions necessary to achieve an agreement for the return of hostages, which is the highest moral imperative at this time,” according to a statement from his office. Gallant also discussed Israel’s attempts to detect and eliminate Hamas leadership in Gaza and pointed to the recent airstrike on Hamas terror commander Mohammed Deif. Israel has not concluded whether Deif was killed in the strike; however, his deputy, Rafa’a Salameh, the commander of Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade, was killed in the attack. Austin, meanwhile, stressed “the importance of increasing the flow of humanitarian assistance through all land crossings and supporting aid deliveries to Ashdod Port in Israel for onward distribution in Gaza.”

Expert Analysis

“Israel has seen increasing success in recent weeks in attempts to eliminate Hamas leaders and terrorists in Gaza. Over nine months of war, Hamas’s capabilities have been reduced so that they have fewer rockets for attacking Israeli border communities and fewer anti-tank missiles and other weapons with which to fight the IDF in Gaza. The pressure on Hamas will need to continue to bring it to the negotiation table and get a hostage deal.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow

“Hamas is currently facing its most precarious and tumultuous period since its founding. Israel is eliminating Hamas’s leadership in Gaza one by one, and the IDF has made substantial advances over the past nine months. Momentum is on Israel’s side, and it would be wise for the Jewish state to capitalize on this strategic opportunity to extract meaningful concessions from Hamas.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal 

Half of Hamas Leadership in Gaza Eliminated in Nine Months of War

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have eliminated half of Hamas’s leadership in Gaza in nine months of war, according to new data released on July 16. “Among the terrorists who were killed, six were brigade commanders, over 20 were battalion commanders, and about 150 were company commanders,” Israeli broadcaster i24 noted. An estimated 14,000 terrorists have been eliminated as well. The military operations in Gaza have significantly reduced Hamas’s capabilities and left the group in “disarray,” according to The Jerusalem Post. This has generated pressure on Hamas, creating the conditions necessary for a possible deal to return the 120 hostages still held captive by Hamas in Gaza, according to Gallant.

Related Analysis

“Chief of Hamas Khan Younis Brigade Confirmed Killed,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hamas Critic Badly Beaten in Gaza by Masked Men,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Targets Hamas and Islamic Jihad Terrorists Hiding in UNRWA School,” FDD Flash Brief