The IDF destroyed Hamas’ military through systematic clearing operations and targeted raids.

The IDF isolated and then degraded Hamas units until they could not operate without being fully rebuilt, the doctrinal definition for destroying a military force.

Hamas could not impede any Israeli operation by late 2024 which demonstrated Hamas’ weakness.

The IDF established two operationally significant corridors during its clearance operations that isolated Hamas forces in the north from their counterparts in the south and isolated Hamas from external resupply.

The seizure of the two corridors can enable the IDF to prevent Hamas from reconstituting militarily.

Netzarim Corridor:
The first corridor, which cut off the northern strip from the south, meant that Hamas’ forces in the south could not resupply those in the north, preventing Hamas‘ reconstitution in the north.

The IDF used this corridor to launch repeated raids into the northern Strip and disrupt Hamas' efforts at reconstitution because reconstitution requires a force to remain out-of-contact for substantial periods of time.

These raids prevented Hamas from benefiting materially from new recruits because they had no sanctuary in which to learn ambush techniques or how to build improvised explosive devices or rockets.

1. The repeated IDF raids also killed key Hamas commanders and destroyed weapons stockpiles.
2. Hamas in the northern strip could not readily replace dead commanders or destroyed weapons.

Philadelphi corridor:
The Philadelphi corridor, which cut Hamas off from external resupply, could prevent Hamas’ reconstitution over the long term if Israel or its partners secure the Gaza Strip-Egypt border after the ceasefire.

This corridor could enable Israel to block Hamas resupply from elsewhere abroad and contain the group after the war.