Israel has officially defeated Hamas in the Khan Yunis area, in the southeast of the Gaza Strip, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reported Thursday night.

According to Gallant, thanks to additional gains by Israeli forces in the last week, the number of terrorists killed during the Gaza incursion has risen to more than 10,000.

Likewise, the minister also stated that the number of wounded terrorists exceeds 10,000.

Two days ago, Gallant had reported that Israeli attacks on Khan Yunis were intensifying and also announced that the IDF will maintain control of Gaza after defeating Hamas.

"After the war, when it’s over, I think it’s completely clear that Hamas won’t control Gaza. Israel will control [it] militarily but won’t control it in a civilian sense," Gallant said during the briefing in Tel Aviv.

Until last week, the number of terrorists killed was 9,000 and the injured numbered 8,000.

Based on that calculation and assuming that the number of Hamas terrorists before the war was between 30,000 and 40,000 fighters, currently the percentage of Hamas that has been forced out of commission would be between 56-75%, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Now, according to Gallant, Israel will aim to defeat Hamas in Rafah, where to date, Israeli forces have avoided sending ground troops so as not to alienate Egypt.

"We are achieving our missions in Khan Younis, and we will also reach Rafah and eliminate terror elements that threaten us," the minister said in a statement.

The Jerusalem Post reported, citing unnamed senior officials, that many Hamas leaders left Khan Yunis for Rafah.