Gallant: Detained Hamas Forces Say the Group is Collapsing from Within

Yoav Gallant, Israel's Defense Minister, stated on Sunday, April 1, that senior Hamas operatives captured by Israeli military forces in the Gaza Strip have told interrogators that the group is collapsing from within. According to 'The Times of Israel,' he said, 'In the past week or two, hundreds of terrorists have been arrested, and what they say about Hamas reflects their current situation. They say that Hamas is collapsing from within because the price they are paying is very heavy.' He emphasized that Israel intends to eliminate all those involved in the October 7 attack, 'from low-level operatives to senior leadership.' Referring to the extensive attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel that initiated the ongoing war, he stated, 'The Israeli Defense Forces will continue to fight until all terrorists in the Gaza Strip are eliminated.' Gallant noted significant progress in locating both terrorists and their senior commanders during the Israeli army's operations at Shifa Hospital. Israel claims that since the start of operations in Gaza, over 500 members of 'terrorist groups' have been arrested in this hospital, and about 200, including several of their senior commanders, have been killed. According to the report, militants had hidden mortars, explosives, sniper rifles, assault rifles, handguns, and other military equipment inside patient pillows and beds, as well as in the ceilings and walls of the maternity ward of Shifa Hospital. The Israeli army announced that approximately 350 patients and medical staff from Shifa Hospital have been transferred to a 'designated area' in another part of the complex, where humanitarian aid has been provided to them. The discovery of weapons in Shifa Hospital comes after the Israeli army killed two senior Hamas members named Fadi Dweik and Zakaria Najib following a chase and exchange of fire in the maternity ward of Shifa Hospital last week. The Israeli army also stated that in cooperation with the internal security service, Shin Bet, on Sunday, April 1, it targeted a 'command center of the Islamic Jihad group' in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Hospital located in Deir al-Balah. According to the Israeli army's statement, Islamic Jihad operatives were inside the operations room during this airstrike. The attack on this Islamic Jihad command center follows the visit of Ziad al-Nakhalah, the group's secretary-general, to Iran and his meeting with senior officials of the Islamic Republic. The war with Hamas began on October 7 of last year following an attack by this group, supported by the Iranian government. On that day, thousands of terrorists invaded southern Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 253 hostages, including women, children, the elderly, and the sick. Israel launched its comprehensive operation aimed at eradicating terrorist groups in Gaza and freeing hostages. Israel claims to have killed 13,000 terrorists in Gaza since the beginning of the war, and 130 hostages remain in Hamas captivity. Many countries around the world, including Israel, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.