Reports: Israeli army commanders believe freeing captives not compatible with goal of destroying Hamas

Senior Israeli army commanders believe that Israel's two stated goals of destroying Hamas and freeing the captives are not compatible, the New York Times reported.

Four senior commanders, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Times that "the dual objectives of freeing the hostages and destroying Hamas are now mutually incompatible".

The report says it has reviewed Israeli battle plans from the start of the war and that the Israeli army is currently in control of a smaller part of the Strip than originally envisioned.

This slow progress has caused military leaders to express frustration with the political leadership "and led them to conclude that the freedom of more than 100 Israeli hostages still in Gaza can be secured only through diplomatic rather than military means", the report states.