TEL AVIV [Israel], On Sunday, Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Galant said the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Khan Yunis in Gaza came after Hamas "ceased to exist as a military structure in the city" and "your The forces moved "to this area in preparation for their future missions, including their mission in Rafah." These comments came as he met with the Defense Ministry director general, the head of the Southern Command and additional senior officials from the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) Southern Command assessed the situation, Minister Gallant was briefed on the IDF's operational activities in the areas of Khan Yunis and Shifa as well as operational preparations for the destruction of Hamas's Rafah Brigade, "an accomplishment, which will finalize the elimination of Hamas as a military authority in Gaza," his office said, calling the IDF's achievements "extremely impressive," adding that it had "eliminated the terrorists And destroyed terrorist targets including warehouses, weapons, headquarters, communication centers and others. "Their activities enabled the elimination of Hamas as a functioning military entity in the region," he said, adding, "Our forces are going to prepare for their follow-up missions. We saw an example of such missions in Shifa, "And will see such missions in the Rafah area. W. reach a point when Hamas will no longer control the Gaza Strip and will no longer act as a military structure that poses a threat to the citizens of the State of Israel." (ANI/TPS)