Jerusalem anticipates that the intense conflict in Gaza will persist for another six to eight weeks, including within Rafah city, before a reduction in military efforts, as reported by Reuters on Monday.
“According to the report, military leaders believe they can inflict significant damage on Hamas’s remaining capabilities during this period, leading to a transition to a phase of lower-intensity targeted airstrikes and special forces operations,” citing two Israeli officials and two regional sources familiar with the plan.
Despite international concerns regarding potential civilian casualties in Rafah, Jerusalem remains committed to advancing the ground operation in what the Israel Defense Forces consider Hamas’s last stronghold in the Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently emphasized the importance of the Rafah operation in fully defeating the terrorist group. Israel also plans to eliminate the weapons-smuggling tunnels believed to run beneath the Gaza-Egyptian border.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated on Friday that IDF forces would target Hamas command centers in Rafah, stressing the implementation of “extraordinary measures” to minimize civilian casualties.
The population of Rafah has increased in recent months to approximately 1.5 million after Israeli forces directed residents of northern Gaza to a designated humanitarian zone there. Israel reportedly intends to evacuate noncombatants from the city ahead of ground maneuvers.
“We’ve dismantled 18 of the 24 regional battalions in Gaza,” Gallant informed foreign reporters on Friday. “Now, Rafah is the next Hamas center of gravity.”
A Hamas official based in Qatar informed Reuters that the group estimates 6,000 of its fighters have been killed by Israeli forces during the more than four-month-long conflict in Gaza.
This number constitutes approximately half of the 12,000 militants Israel claims to have killed since the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, with many more wounded and captured. Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy announced these figures a week ago, adding that “about three-quarters of Hamas’ battalions have been decimated.” He stated that the casualties, both dead and captured, account for “more than half of Hamas’ fighting force incapacitated.”