Israel’s Progress in Eliminating Hamas: A Five-Month Update
In the five months since the war between Israel and Hamas began, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have made significant progress in their aim to eliminate Hamas as a fighting force. While the situation in the northern Gaza Strip has improved, the south remains a combat zone with ongoing operations in the city of Khan Younis and plans for an assault on Rafah, near the Egyptian border.
According to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Hamas is no longer capable of firing rockets into Israel and has seen a significant loss in fighters. Thousands of Hamas fighters have been killed, wounded, or captured, leaving the group weakened and disorganized. The remaining fighting is primarily between IDF units and small numbers of Hamas fighters acting independently.
However, the situation in Rafah is more complicated. Four Hamas battalions are holed up in the city, and it is believed that the group’s leadership is hiding in tunnels beneath the city. Israel is determined to carry out an operation in Rafah to eliminate these remaining threats.
The military toll on both sides has been significant. The IDF reports that almost 250 soldiers have been killed in action since the start of the conflict, bringing the total IDF deaths to over 500 since Hamas’s initial assault on Israel. The number of Hamas fighters killed is uncertain, with Israeli claims of 13,000 fighters killed not independently verified. The U.S. government estimates that the number is likely lower.
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is dire, with nearly the entire population of two million people displaced. One million people are crammed into Rafah, which was previously home to only a third of that number. Food, shelter, water, and medicine are scarce, and approximately 500,000 people are food insecure. The United Nations and international NGOs warn of an impending famine.
Aid delivery through Egypt has been slow and uncertain due to fighting, Israeli security checks, and banditry. To address this, the U.S. Central Command has begun delivering assistance through air drops. However, air drops are not an efficient method of delivering food, prompting the Biden administration to propose building a pier off Gaza’s coast to facilitate aid shipments.
Israel’s planned assault on Rafah raises concerns about worsening the humanitarian situation. The Biden administration has emphasized the need for Israel to have a credible plan to protect civilians during the operation. However, Palestinians in Gaza have limited options for seeking safety.
Beyond Gaza, tensions between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah continue to escalate. Israel wants Hezbollah to withdraw to the Litani River, but diplomatic efforts to achieve this have stalled. As a result, Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in deeper strikes into each other’s territory. Iran’s support of Hezbollah with a significant number of rockets adds to the potential devastation of a war between Israel and Lebanon.
In addition, Yemen’s Houthis, backed by Iran, have been firing ballistic missiles at Israel and attacking shipping in the Red Sea. Israel’s missile defense system has successfully intercepted these missiles, but the Houthis have continued their operations despite American-led attacks. The Houthis claim they will stop once Israel withdraws from Gaza, but their attacks are not limited to Israeli targets. Their actions also give them leverage in the international economy.
The Biden administration’s position on the war has shifted rhetorically, using the term “cease-fire” instead of “humanitarian pause.” While publicly criticizing Israel for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the administration maintains its support for Israel’s right to defend itself and the goal of destroying Hamas.
However, President Biden has shown a change in his view on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Previously disinterested, he now supports the idea of Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace. The challenge lies in finding a way to achieve this goal, as opposition to a two-state solution has increased among the Israeli public, and support for Hamas has grown among Palestinians in the West Bank.
As the conflict continues, the situation remains complex and challenging. The progress made by Israel in eliminating Hamas is notable, but the humanitarian crisis and escalating tensions in the region pose significant obstacles to achieving lasting peace.