The IDF has ordered the complete evacuation of all residents of Rafah and parts of Khan Yunis in its continuing push further into Gaza from both the south and the north. This current evacuation allows the IDF to potentially take control of the entirety of Rafah - something they did not do in the lead up to the now defunct ceasefire.
All the moves the IDF is making now is continuous squeezing of the population is above ground into the Muwasi humanitarian area. The big battle, which is meant to destroy Hamas and allow the IDF to fully occupy Gaza is yet to begin. When it does, it will focus on a complete take over of the Gaza Strip after it has been cut up into five sections.
The reason for the squeezing from both the north and the south is that it is believed that most the remaining live hostages are being held in Nuseirat in the center of the Gaza Strip. This is why forays into Nuseirat have been limited as to not endanger the hostages. This was where Noa Argamani and three other hostages were rescued from.
The IDF’s current moves in Gaza match up to Netanyahu’s statements at the end of a cabinet meeting. He laid out four critical points to be achieved by the end of the war otherwise known as the day after:
- Hamas will lay down its weapons.
- Hamas leaders will be exiled from the Gaza Strip.
- Israel will ensure general security in the Gaza Strip.
- Israel will enable the Trump plan for voluntary emigration.
Two other recent decisions suggest that these four points are being set in active motion by Prime Minister Netanyahu. The first is the report coming from multiple outlets that Netanyahu has tasked the Mossad in finding countries willing to take a large amount of Gazans who wish to voluntarily leave Gaza. The reason for the Mossad, is that some of these countries may agree to it if Israel agrees to jointly help with developing agriculture or defense in the countries under discussion. For this reason, the negotiations must be held ion secret.
The second decision is the approval by Israel’s security cabinet of Defense Minister Israel Katz’s plan to establish an authority within the IDF to assist Gazans who want to voluntarily evacuate the Gaza Strip.
These decisions, along with the continual evacuation of Gazans into one area of the Gaza Strip indicates that once this is complete Israel’s final battle with Hamas will commence.