Israeli army surrounds Hamas leader's house, kills half of commanders in Gaza

In a clip released by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office on December 6, Netanyahu said: "Last night, our forces could go anywhere in the Gaza Strip. They are now surrounding Sinwar's house. That house is no longer a safe haven. He can run away, but we will find him."

Prime Minister Netanyahu also praised the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for killing about half of Hamas' battalion commanders in the two-month-long fighting. The movement is believed to have 24 battalions fighting in Gaza.

He declared that Gaza needed to be demilitarized and the only force that could ensure this was the IDF.

According to the Wall Street Journal on December 1, under the orders of Mr. Netanyahu, Israel's top intelligence agencies are planning to hunt down Hamas leaders living in Lebanon, Türkiye and Qatar. This will be a multi-year campaign to track down the figures responsible for the October 7 attack.

Tensions have flared up again in the Middle East after Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip launched a cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, killing more than 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostage. In response, Israel immediately launched Operation Iron Sword to eliminate Hamas, as well as blockade the entire Gaza Strip.

Since then, the IDF has carried out a series of airstrikes and ground attacks in Gaza, as well as parts of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinians have also occurred in the West Bank.

According to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, Israel’s retaliatory bombardment has killed more than 16,000 people and injured more than 43,000 as of December 6. Many more are believed to have died in the rubble.