John Kirby, the Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the U.S. National Security Council, stated that the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, still wields significant power in Gaza.
During a press conference in Washington, Kirby pointed out that the Israeli military has been able to neutralize a large number of Hamas’s leaders, members, and infrastructure, which has had an effect on the movement's ability to lead and control, according to him.
Kirby added that military operations cannot eliminate ideologies, reaffirming that it is improbable for Israel to eliminate all Hamas fighters. However, he did express certainty that military operations can address the fundamental threat posed by what he described as terrorist organizations.
He further indicated that the Israeli military is capable of "eliminating the threat that Hamas poses to the Israeli people," but he clarified by saying, "Will their doctrine be eliminated? No. Is there a chance that the group will be eradicated? Probably not."
The American official pledged that Washington will work to maintain the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, noting that President Joe Biden continues to receive updates regarding the situation in the region.
Moreover, Kirby stated that Washington does not desire the war that Israel is waging on the Gaza Strip to escalate and spread to other fronts.
The spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council reported that talks regarding the release of Israeli detainees in Gaza are "ongoing and serious."
