Israeli defence minister says war on Hamas will last months

An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires a shell from southern Israel towards the Gaza Strip in a position near the Israel-Gaza border (Picture: Leo Correa/AP)

Israel’s defence minister has said it will take months to destroy Hamas, predicting a drawn-out war even as his country and its top ally, the United States, face increasing international isolation and alarm over the devastation from the campaign in Gaza.

Yoav Gallant’s comments came as US national security adviser Jake Sullivan met Israeli leaders to discuss a timetable for winding down major combat in Gaza.