Israeli leaders prepare for two more years of war in Gaza as they press on with plans to destroy Hamas

ISRAELI leaders are steeled for two more years of war in Gaza as they press on with plans to destroy Hamas.

Ministers have been told the army is about to enter phase three of the war to wipe out the terror group as a military force.

AFP

Israeli leaders are steeled for two more years of war in Gaza[/caption]

Getty

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his desire to obliterate Hamas[/caption]

The Israel Defence Forces might achieve that target by the summer but it could take two years, a Cabinet briefing warned.

And defence minister Yoav Gallant said: “The war in Gaza will be a long, hard war. It has costs — heavy costs — but its justification is the highest that can be. We need determination, endurance, strength and national cohesion with the goals.

“This is a battle of national determination and I tell you that we will defeat Hamas.”

He also told the parliament’s foreign affairs and defence committee: “We are in a multi-front war and are coming under attack from seven theatres: Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, Iraq, Yemen and Iran.

“We have already responded and taken action in six of these theatres.”

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu also reiterated his desire to obliterate Hamas, suggesting that an ambitious ceasefire plan brokered by Egypt was already dead in the water.

Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Mr Netanyahu said: “Hamas must be destroyed, Gaza must be demilitarised, and Palestinian society must be deradicalised. These are the three prerequisites for peace between Israel and its Palestinian neighbours.”

Israel’s intense bombardment of Gaza continued over the weekend with Israeli jets striking more than 100 targets.

Ten Hamas fighters were also killed in ground operations.

The Palestinian Red Crescent ­Society said its HQ in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis was hit.

Hamas says 20,915 Palestinians have now been killed in the conflict.