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JERUSALEM — Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Deffrin said on Tuesday that Hamas’s authority in the Gaza Strip is eroding, as Israeli military operations intensify both above and below ground.
His remarks come amid continued clashes near aid distribution centers and renewed scrutiny over recent civilian casualties in the embattled enclave. “Hamas is losing control. It continues to operate against its own civilians,” Deffrin stated during a media briefing.
He emphasized that Israel’s humanitarian initiatives are directly challenging Hamas’s grip over the population. “The distribution of food severely harms Hamas and its rule. Tens of thousands of meals are distributed daily to Gazans.”
Deffrin accused the militant group of intentionally spreading false reports regarding Israeli actions near aid sites — misinformation that he says has been “parroted by world media.”
“[Hamas] spreads false information, which some Western media outlets have disseminated,” he said.
On Tuesday morning, the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza alleged that 24 Palestinians were killed by IDF fire near an aid distribution center in the Rafah area.
A similar claim circulated over the weekend, reporting 31 deaths in another incident. These reports were widely circulated by international news outlets before any Israeli response was available.
Deffrin denied these allegations, saying, “The report from the weekend was false.” He added that earlier on Tuesday, Israeli forces fired warning shots at suspicious individuals approximately 500 meters from a humanitarian aid center — but did not fire on civilians.
“We do not prevent Gaza residents from reaching the distribution centers; it is Hamas that prevents them,” he clarified.
He further accused armed militants of attacking civilians collecting aid in southern Khan Yunis. “In recent days, armed individuals have attacked Gazans. In southern Khan Yunis, they harmed civilians who came to collect aid,” he said.
The IDF later released aerial footage reportedly showing masked gunmen disrupting the distribution of food, assaulting civilians, and firing weapons near looted supplies in the south of Gaza.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by the United States, had documented the chaotic scenes, but conflicting reports from the region sparked confusion before Israeli verification.
In response to criticism over the IDF’s delayed communication, Deffrin defended the military’s caution. “It takes time to investigate matters, but we will not report half-truths. Even if it takes time, we owe the truth first and foremost to our soldiers,” he said.
Outlining upcoming military efforts under Operation Gideon’s Chariots, Deffrin confirmed expanded IDF operations in both northern and southern Gaza.
“We are in the midst of a large-scale operation, both above and below ground,” he said. “We are operating according to a well-defined plan whose purpose is to return the hostages and dismantle Hamas’s rule.”
Hostage negotiations remain stalled, Deffrin admitted, but he reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to creating the conditions for their return.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens and conflicting narratives persist, international pressure is mounting on all parties to protect civilian lives and ensure safe delivery of aid.
