Israel is entering the “beginning of the end” of its war with Hamas as IDF forces shift their offensive to the southern tip of the Gaza Strip, an adviser to Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested.
Mark Regev, a top adviser to the Israeli Prime Minister, revealed efforts have shifted to the south and east after Hamas was all but wiped out in the north.
The announcement comes after Hezbollah’s senior commander Wissam Tawil was reportedly killed in a drone strike in Lebanon.
The strike reportedly hit Tawil’s car in the Khibert Selm area in the Bint Jbeil district, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and catch fire.
IDF forces have shifted their offensive to the south and east parts of the Gaza strip
GETTY/REUTERS
Confirming the latest development in the Israel-Hamas war, Regev said: “To paraphrase Winston Churchill, ‘It’s not the end but it could be, maybe, the beginning of the end'.
“Northern Gaza, until now, had a ferocious Hamas war machine that has now been substantially dismantled. But there is still work ahead of us.
“The Hamas war machine has been destroyed. If anyone thinks a ceasefire is going to solve anything, it’s an illusion.
“Any ceasefire that leaves Hamas in power takes us back to square one.”
Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation, launched an attack against Israel on October 7.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Mark Regev previously served as Israel's Ambassador to the United Kingdom
GETTY
The attack resulted in the death of 1,200 Israelis and hundreds being taken hostage.
Israel’s retaliatory strikes have killed more than 22,000 Palestinians in Gaza, the Strip’s Hamas-run Health Ministry has claimed.
Despite optimism about the end of the conflict being in sight, Israel Defence Forces spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari also warned fighting would continue throughout the year.
He said: “We are operating . . . to achieve the war’s goals, to dismantle Hamas.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken jetted off to the Middle East for peace talks as the conflict continues.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conferenceREUTERSHowever, Netanyahu doubled down on his commitment to obliterate Hamas.
The Israeli Prime Minister said: “The war must not be stopped until we achieve the elimination of Hamas, the return of all our hostages and ensuring that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.”
Tawil’s death threatens to bring further instability to the region.
A security source said: “This is a very painful strike.”
Another added: “Things will flare up now.”
Hezbollah's leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah previously warned Israel not to launch a full-scale war on Lebanon.