Hamas cannot be eliminated, admits Israeli army spokesperson

Israel's chief military spokesperson has admitted that Hamas cannot be eradicated, leading to a swift response from the government, which reaffirmed its dedication to the destruction of the Palestinian group.

Despite more than eight months of conflict ignited by Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 remain entrenched in Gaza, though the area has suffered extensive devastation.

“To claim that we will make Hamas vanish is misleading. Without providing an alternative, ultimately, Hamas will persist,” Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari remarked to Israel’s Channel 13.

“Hamas represents an ideology, and ideologies cannot be eradicated.”

His statements were quickly countered by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose cabinet maintains that the Gaza offensive will continue until Hamas is defeated.

“The political and security cabinet, led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, has set the destruction of Hamas’s military and governmental capabilities as a key objective of the war,” a statement from his office affirmed.

“The IDF remains fully committed to this goal.”

The military also issued a separate clarification on its Telegram channel, emphasizing that Hagari had referred to Hamas “as an ideology” and that his remarks were clear and unambiguous.

“Any other interpretation is taking his statement out of context.”