Netanyahu tells fighters in Gaza: ‘Don’t die for Sinwar, surrender now’ and claims end of Hamas is near

Following several instances of Hamas terrorists surrendering to IDF soldiers in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement on Sunday evening calling on Hamas to surrender. 

“In the past few days, dozens of Hamas terrorists have surrendered to our forces. They are laying down their weapons and turning themselves in to our heroic soldiers,” Netanyahu said. 

“This will take time. The war is still ongoing, but it is the beginning of the end of Hamas. I say to the Hamas terrorists: It's over. Don't die for [Yahya] Sinwar. Surrender – now!” 

Netanyahu said the surrender of Hamas fighters, and the IDF’s persistent advancement is spelling the end for Hamas in Gaza.

The prime minister's statements came after an almost hour-long conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he explained the necessity for the ongoing fighting in the Gaza Strip. 

Army Radio reported on Sunday morning that a large group of Hamas terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip had surrendered after losing contact with Hamas leadership. 

Israel recently released footage of the interrogation of Yousuf al-Mansi, a former minister in Hamas, in which al-Mansi called Sinwar "crazy" and said "everybody hates him."

The IDF continues operations in the northern Gaza Strip to clear out Hamas forces and to destroy the terror group's infrastructure. 

Hamas leadership dismissed claims of any of its members surrendering as “false and baseless.” 

Izzat al-Rishq, a senior Hamas political bureau member, said: “Hamas heroes don’t surrender, and the occupation lies will not deceive anyone.” 

Al-Rishq also claimed: "The end of the occupation has begun in Gaza,” saying that the conflict in the coastal enclave would be remembered as “the clearest of victories” for Hamas. 

Israel continues to warn residents of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, to flee the area as it expands operations there. 

A recent UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire failed after the United States vetoed the resolution. 

UN Sec.-Gen. António Guterres said Gaza is at risk of collapse. 

“I expect public order to completely break down soon and an even worse situation could unfold including epidemic diseases and increased pressure for mass displacement into Egypt,” Guterres said. 

The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Authority has claimed that Israeli strikes have killed 17,000 people since the war began. 

The figure has not been verified by any outside officials and includes the deaths of Hamas terrorists killed fighting Israel from rockets launched by Palestinian terror groups that misfired and fell back into the Gaza Strip. 

Israel reported it has killed between 6,000-7,000 Hamas terrorists since the start of the war, while the IDF estimates that around 11% of all rockets launched from the Gaza Strip have misfired and fallen back into Gaza, causing the deaths of civilians and Hamas militants alike.

Israeli authorities estimate that fighting in Gaza could continue for another two months as they attempt to locate and eliminate senior Hamas leaders hiding in the tunnel system under Khan Younis and searching for the remaining hostages being held captive in Gaza.