Hamas is no longer the militant group whose invasion of Israel triggered the two-year war in Gaza, the Israeli military spokesperson said on Friday at the start of a ceasefire with the Palestinian militant group.
A truck transports an Israeli armoured personnel carrier (APC) near the Israel-Gaza border, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza went into effect, in Israel, October 10, 2025. Reuters/Shir Torem
Hamas is no longer the militant group whose invasion of Israel triggered the two-year war in Gaza, the Israeli military spokesperson said on Friday at the start of a ceasefire with the Palestinian militant group.
"Hamas is not the Hamas of two years ago. Hamas has been defeated every place we fought them," Brigadier General Effie Defrin, the military spokesperson, told reporters at a briefing.
He urged Palestinian residents of Gaza to avoid entering areas under control by the Israel Defense Forces in the enclave.
"I am calling from here on the residents of Gaza to avoid entering areas under IDF control. Keep to the agreement and ensure your safety," he said.
Thousands of displaced Palestinians began flocking towards their abandoned homes after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect on Friday and Israeli troops began pulling back from parts of Gaza.
Reporting by Howard Goller
Israel has said it will seize a chunk of southern Lebanon to create a "buffer zone" against Hezbollah militants, stoking fears among Lebanese of Israeli military occupation that could deepen instability and stoke further displacement.
The Israeli military announced Friday the discovery of an active Hezbollah tunnel network beneath a church in Khiam, a town in southern Lebanon where fierce fighting continues.
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Friday that the Israeli military will expand and intensify its strikes against Iran in direct response to Tehran's continued missile bombardment of Israeli civilians.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.