Israel entering the ‘beginning of the end’ of its war on Hamas, senior government adviser claims

ISRAEL is entering the “beginning of the end” of its war on Hamas, a senior government adviser insisted yesterday.

Military operations have shifted to the South and East of the Gaza Strip after the terror group was wiped out in the North.

Mark Regev, adviser to Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu, 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 to be 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.”

He spoke as Israel marked three months since the October 7 attacks, which saw 1,200 Jews slaughtered.

Last night bombing raids by Israeli jets on the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis intensified.

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.”

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has travelled to the Middle East for peace talks.

But Mr Netanyahu 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.”