Israel Vows To 'Dismantle Hamas', Eliminate Its Top Leadership As Two More Hostages Released

Gaza/Jerusalem: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have declared their commitment to launching "unrelenting attacks" with the goal of completely dismantling the Palestinian terror group, Hamas. This announcement comes as two Israeli women, who were among the more than 200 hostages taken during the October 7 attack, were released.

Dismantling Hamas Completely

Israeli Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, made a statement indicating that Israel has no intention of scaling back its operations in the densely populated Gaza Strip. He hinted at readiness for a possible ground assault, stating, "We want to bring Hamas to a state of full dismantling. The path is a path of unrelenting attacks, damaging Hamas everywhere and in every way. We are well prepared for ground operations in the south."

“We want to bring Hamas to a state of full dismantling—its leaders, its military branch, and its working mechanisms.

That is why we are striking, and eliminating high ranking commanders and members, destroying infrastructure, and acting with great determination.”

Watch this… pic.twitter.com/4wUwiN1s22 — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 23, 2023

Ongoing Military Operations

The Israeli military conducted extensive airstrikes on hundreds of Hamas targets in Gaza, accompanied by ground operations against Hamas militants in the besieged Palestinian territory. These actions have taken place amidst harrowing conditions for civilians trapped in Gaza.

We guaranteed to eliminate Hamas’ terrorism—and we take our word very seriously.

Israeli Air Force fighter jets carried out an airstrike in order to neutralize Ibrahim Al-Saher—the Head of the Anti-Tank Missiles Array of Hamas' Northern Brigade—this morning.

In 2021, Ibrahim… pic.twitter.com/bxiuPlsL3n — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 23, 2023

Release Of Two Israeli Hostages 

Under the pressure of continuous Israeli airstrikes, Hamas released two Israeli women who were among the hostages taken during the October 7 rampage in southern Israel, which resulted in the loss of 1,400 lives. The Palestinian health ministry reported that the death toll from two weeks of airstrikes in Gaza had now exceeded 5,000.

Efforts For Hostage Release 

Publicly, the United States has affirmed Israel's right to self-defence. However, behind the scenes, there have been private appeals for caution from the White House, Pentagon, and State Department. Their priority is to secure time for negotiations to free other hostages, though these appeals were made before the recent hostage releases. When asked about the possibility of a ceasefire, U.S. President Joe Biden commented, "We should have those hostages released, and then we can talk."

Barack Obama's Warning

Former U.S. President Barack Obama issued a statement cautioning Israel against causing excessive civilian casualties in its response to Hamas. He stressed the importance of considering the human costs of any military strategy and the potential consequences for Palestinian attitudes and global support for Israel.

Escalating Casualties & Impact On Gaza

Gaza's health ministry reported a significant increase in casualties, with 436 people killed in the last 24 hours. Israeli forces massed near Gaza, raising concerns of a possible ground invasion. The Israeli military's actions have resulted in over 5,000 Palestinian deaths, including many children.

IDF Strikes Hezbollah In South Lebanon

Israeli airstrikes also targeted positions in south Lebanon held by Hezbollah, a group aligned with Iran, similar to Hamas. Clashes between the Israeli army and Palestinians occurred in the occupied West Bank, while Hamas continued to launch rockets into Israel.

Humanitarian Concerns & International Response

With Gaza's population facing shortages of essential supplies, European leaders, along with the United Nations and Arab nations, are calling for a "humanitarian pause" in hostilities to allow aid to reach those in need. Aid trucks have delivered water, food, and medicine to Gaza, but fuel remains a critical need, with reserves running out within two days. The conflict in Gaza continues to escalate, affecting the region beyond its borders.