Large-scale attack on Rafah seems a matter of time: ‘Fighters better keep their hands up to surrender’

The air and tank attacks on remaining Palestinian fighters show that Israel has not yet succeeded in destroying Hamas since the war broke out on October 7, 200 days ago, following the movement’s terror attack. An Israeli military intelligence official objects The New York Times said that there are still about 5,000 fighters in North Gaza alone. Before the war, Hamas’ strength was estimated at 30,000 men.

The military said dozens of airstrikes were carried out on observation posts, rocket launch positions and buildings believed to have been used by fighters from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Israel ordered residents of parts of the northern city of Beit Lahiya to immediately go to two specific areas as it wanted to carry out a major operation against the city’s “terror infrastructure.” Rockets had previously been fired from the evacuated area at Israeli villages just across the border.

Israeli soldiers have been fighting Hamas fighters in central Gaza since Sunday. The dozens of airstrikes also hit homes in Gaza City, one of the first targets in the war. It is not known how many deaths occurred.

Four months ago, the Israeli army had declared that it would withdraw its troops from the north. According to the army, the elimination of Hamas battalions in the north, which were said to have been among the movement’s best, had been completed. But in recent months there have been reports that fighters have been moving north from other parts of Gaza to resume fighting and rebuild Hamas infrastructure.

Attack on Rafah

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has always said that the total destruction of Hamas is one of the main goals of the war. Israel claims to have killed some 13,000 fighters so far. According to the army, only 6 of the 24 Hamas battalions remain intact, the rest are said to be badly damaged. According to Israel, the southern city of Rafah is still home to four operational battalions, as well as leaders and senior military commanders, including Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

For that reason, Netanyahu wants to attack the city, where more than a million civilians have sought refuge in recent months, as quickly as possible. But because so many Hamas fighters have moved north, the question arises whether a major attack on Rafah would bring Hamas closer to destruction.

Battered, but not defeated

The American intelligence services recently warned in a report that Hamas is badly battered militarily after more than six months of war, but certainly not defeated. “Israel will likely face continued armed resistance from Hamas for years to come,” the spy services said. “The military will struggle to eliminate Hamas’s underground infrastructure that allows fighters to hide, gain strength and surprise Israeli forces.”

Although the US government opposes a large-scale attack on Rafah, due to the expected many civilian deaths, the operation appears to be a matter of time. The Israeli army announced on Tuesday that it is preparing two brigades for deployment in Gaza. And in Khan Younis a tent camp is being built where residents from Rafah can live.

Israeli Brigadier General Itzik Cohen, commander of a division operating in Gaza, warned that Hamas “will soon be hit hard in Rafah.” Cohen: “Hamas must know that if the army enters Rafah, the fighters had better hold up their hands and surrender.” Hamas does not want to budge. The movement called on Tuesday to intensify the fight on all fronts.