After six weeks of intense combat and defiance of its allies, Israel is nearing its objectives in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which it claims was the last stronghold of Hamas. This development, reported by Israeli officials and analysts to The Washington Post, raises the possibility of a shift from large-scale military operations to a less intense phase of the conflict.
This shift from extensive ground and air attacks, which have leveled numerous homes and resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, would mark a significant milestone in the ongoing war. A potential de-escalation could provide much-needed relief to civilians who have been caught in the crossfire for months, allowing for more humanitarian aid and possibly paving the way for diplomatic efforts toward a ceasefire agreement.
The Israeli military has announced the destruction of most of Hamas’s 24 battalions, with the remaining forces in Rafah severely weakened. Despite this, individual fighters and small groups continue to launch rockets at Israel and target its forces even in areas largely under Israeli control.
Israel has indicated its intention to maintain some military presence within or near Gaza to conduct rapid strikes against Hamas, aiming to keep the movement under control. An Israeli military official stated, “Our goal now is to defeat the Rafah Brigade, and we are doing that.”
The Rafah offensive concludes eight months of extensive ground operations in Gaza, following weeks of aerial bombardments that initiated Israel’s war on Hamas. The conflict began after Hamas killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and took around 250 hostages during attacks on October 7.
In Gaza, home to 2.2 million people, at least 37,372 Palestinians have been killed and 85,452 wounded, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, which states that the majority of the victims are women and children.
