Israel: "Gaza Ground Operation May Take 3 Months... Must Be the Final Move"

Yoav Galant, Israel's Defense Minister, on the 22nd (local time) projected that the ground operation in the Gaza Strip, being prepared to eliminate the Palestinian armed faction Hamas, could last up to three months.

On the morning of the 20th (local time), thick black smoke rose into the sky in the northern Gaza Strip of Palestine, which was struck by an airstrike from the Israeli military. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to a report by the local media Times of Israel (TOI), Minister Galant stated at the Air Force Command in Tel Aviv that "this operation must be the last operation in the Gaza Strip."

Minister Galant said, "This operation could continue for one month, two months, or even three months," but emphasized, "In the end, Hamas will no longer exist." He also added, "The enemy will encounter the Air Force's bombs before facing (Israel's) armored and infantry units."

Galant also encouraged the Israeli Air Force personnel, saying, "I am impressed by how you have proven so far that you can carry out missions in a lethal, precise, and very high-level manner."

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been increasing pressure ahead of deploying ground troops to the Gaza Strip. Since the 13th, they have warned Gaza residents that those who do not move south will be considered terrorists, indicating that the ground operation is imminent.

Minister Galant also stated the previous day that the IDF would soon "see the inside" of the Gaza Strip.

On the same day, Herzi Halevi, IDF Chief of Staff, told the commanders of the Golan Infantry Brigade, "We will enter the Gaza Strip," and added, "We will carry out operations and specialized missions to destroy Hamas's operational facilities and infrastructure."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.