Israel-Hamas war expected to go on for months, says IDF chief

The Israel-Hamas war could last for months, according to the Israeli Defense Forces chief Herzi Halevi. 

During a news conference on Tuesday, Halevi told reporters that the war in Gaza would "continue for many more months," according to the BBC. 

"There are no shortcuts when it comes to thoroughly dismantling a terrorist organization except being stubborn and determined in the fighting," he also said. 

Israel earlier this year ordered residents to leave northern Gaza and has recently expanded evacuation orders to include central Gaza, according to The Associated Press.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says Israel is being attacked from seven different areas in what he calls a "multi-front war."

"We are in a multi-front war. We are being attacked from seven fronts — Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), Iraq, Yemen and Iran," he said, according to The Times of Israel. "We have already responded and acted on six of those fronts."

The war began on Oct. 7 after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel which resulted in around 1,200 people being killed. 

The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reports that 20,915 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war.