The IDF claimed that the military wing of Hamas has been defeated and the group is now operating as a guerilla organization, KAN reported on Friday, citing unnamed IDF sources.
At the UN General Assembly on Friday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israeli forces have destroyed "nearly all of Hamas's terror battalions - 23 out of 24 now.
"To complete our victory, we are focused on mopping up Hamas's remaining fighting capabilities," he continued, noting that the IDF "is taking out senior commanders and destroying terrorist infrastructure."
Despite the KAN report that Hamas functions as a guerilla organization, the prime minister said the same day that the terrorist group "still has some governing power in the Gaza Strip," - stating that Hamas terrorists steal food meant for Gaza's civilian population.
Last update in Gaza
The last update in the fight against the Gaza-based terror organization was that 40 members had been killed across the Palestinian enclave on Wednesday. Those killed belonged to Hamas's weapons, rockets, and intelligence divisions.
The report, also citing the Israeli military, said that the IDF operated simultaneously in Nuseirat, Rafah, and Zeitoun to destroy Hamas infrastructure in the area.
Amid the large escalation in Israel's northern border, reports have come out expressing concern about the lack of attention to the hostages still in captivity in Gaza.
"The hostages have not come back, but, practically speaking, we have finished the war in Gaza,” said Udi Goren, whose cousin Tal Haimi was killed by Hamas and whose body is still held hostage.
A Jerusalem Post editorial this week also claimed that the rising tensions with Hezbollah have caused the hostages "to fade into memory."
Eve Young contributed to this report.