Israel’s defense minister says Hamas war will last months

Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned Thursday that the country’s war against Hamas in Gaza could last months as the U.S. pushes Israel to scale back its military operations amid rising civilian casualties.

The Biden administration has pressed the Israeli government in recent days to wind down major military operations in Gaza as the war enters a third month with Hamas leadership mostly intact, despite a significant impact on civilians.

“It will last more than several months, but we will win, and we will destroy them,” Gallant said of the war, The Associated Press reported.

The Biden administration’s initially unchecked support for Israel has slightly waned as the conflict continues and Israel faces increasing international pressure for a cease-fire. 

On Tuesday, the United Nations passed a resolution calling for a cease-fire to help civilians in Gaza. Only eight nations joined Israel and the U.S. in voting against it.

Pressure has also mounted over post-war plans, as the Israeli government said Wednesday it will not support a Palestinian Authority government in Gaza, which the U.S. and Arab allies have pushed for.

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh called on the U.S. to follow through on its criticism and demands for an independent Palestinian-led government in Gaza post-war.

“Now that the United States has talked the talk, we want Washington to walk the walk,” Shtayyeh told the AP. He and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet U.S. officials Friday.

Fighting in Gaza has slowed in recent days as the Israeli military moves south, toward parts of the region with a higher density of civilians. Military analysts have warned that dense, urban fighting in southern Gaza will be the most difficult and dangerous in the conflict.

A Hamas ambush on Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza on Wednesday, a region believed to be under the control of the Israeli military, also raised questions over the viability of the current military strategy.

The war has flattened much of northern Gaza and displaced nearly 80 percent of people from their homes, according to the United Nations. More than 18,400 Palestinians have died in the war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.