Mark Regev, a longtime adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said that Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip is nearing a breakdown. The remarks were reported by TASS and echoed by officials familiar with the briefing. Regev noted that in the north there have been instances where many Hamas fighters surrendered. He suggested that the movement there is close to collapse, while adding that the process might take a bit longer because the operation in the south began later. He stressed that the Israeli military conducts its actions with precision, aiming to minimize civilian harm while achieving strategic objectives.
In related commentary, former members of the Israel Defense Forces described seeing weapons concealed in incubators at a medical facility in Gaza. These accounts, cited by Reuters, come as both Israel and Hamas are said to be open to the prospect of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.Officials on the ground and in command centers emphasize that the fighting has exposed an extensive network of tunnels used by Hamas, a discovery that underscores the challenges of the campaign and the importance of careful targeting to avoid civilian casualties. The reports reflect ongoing debates over how to balance security needs with humanitarian considerations in a densely populated urban area and how such dynamics affect potential pauses in hostilities.