Netanyahu says 70% of Hamas battalions destroyed nearly 4 months into war

Israel has destroyed 70% of Hamas' battalions, with most of those remaining being in the southern Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday nearly four months into his nation's war against Hamas. 

Netanyahu also seemed to address reports that the Biden administration has been pressuring Israel to allow more humanitarian aid in Gaza and to use different military tactics. 

"Israel is a sovereign state. We greatly appreciate the support that we have received from the Biden administration since the outbreak of the war," Netanyahu said, as translated, before a government meeting in Tel Aviv. "This is not to say that there are no disagreements among us but as of today we have succeeded in overcoming them."

Netanyahu stressed that Israel would act independently of the U.S., saying: "As a sovereign state that is fighting for its existence and its future, we make our own decisions, even in those instances where there is no agreement with our American friends."

The first goal for Israel in Gaza, where it has been fighting since terrorists invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, is to destroy the battalions of Hamas, Netanyahu said. 

"So far we have destroyed 17 of 24 battalions. Most of the remaining battalions are in the southern Gaza Strip and in Rafah, and we will deal with them," he said. 

The prime minister said the second goal is to demilitarize Gaza, where terrorist groups such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine operate in addition to Hamas. 

The third goal is to destroy tunnels in the Gaza Strip that are used to launch military attacks, Netanyahu also said. 

Throughout all of this, Israel is continuing its efforts to free the approximately 130 people who remain hostage in Gaza, Netanyahu added. 

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