News
Latest News
news bulletin
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Other News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Beirut
26
o
Bekaa
23
o
Keserwan
28
o
Metn
28
o
Mount Lebanon
24
o
North
28
o
South
26
o
Live
Video
Audio
Schedule
shows
العربية
watching now
Nharkom Said
SUBSCRIBE
Home
Notification
Live
Video
Audio
shows
Beirut
26
o
Bekaa
23
o
Keserwan
28
o
Metn
28
o
Mount Lebanon
24
o
North
28
o
South
26
o
News
Programs
The News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Programs
Documentaries
Lebanon’s Centennial
News Bulletin
The Untold History
Talk Show
Series
Sports
Variety
Other
Comedy
Oldies
Breaking News
Latest News
Highlighted News
Most Read
Videos
العربية
Watch the latest programs and the latest developments on your favorite screen
Shows
Join millions of followers
Who We Are
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Careers
Channel frequencies
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
Israel expects 6-8-week drive to hit Hamas in Rafah
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2024-02-19 | 07:10
High views
Share
Share
3
min
Israel expects 6-8-week drive to hit Hamas in Rafah
Israel expects to continue full-scale military operations in Gaza for another six to eight weeks as it prepares to mount a ground invasion of the enclave's southernmost city of Rafah, four officials familiar with the strategy said.
Military chiefs believe they can significantly damage Hamas' remaining capabilities in that time, paving the way for a shift to a lower-intensity phase of targeted airstrikes and special forces operations, according to the two Israeli and two regional officials who asked to remain anonymous to speak freely.
There is little chance that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government will heed international criticism to call off a Rafah ground assault, said Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence official and a negotiator in the first and second Palestinian intifadas, or uprisings in the 1980s and 2000s.
"Rafah is the last bastion of Hamas control, and there remain battalions in Rafah which Israel must dismantle to achieve its goals in this war," he added.
The IDF hasn't explained how it will move more than a million people within the ruins of the enclave.
According to one Israeli security source and an international aid official, who asked not to be identified, Gazans could be screened to weed out any Hamas fighters before being sent northwards.
A separate Israeli source said Israel could also build a floating jetty north of Rafah to enable international aid and hospital ships to arrive by sea.
Nonetheless, an Israeli defense official said Palestinians wouldn't be allowed to return to north Gaza en masse, leaving scrubland around Rafah as an option for makeshift tent cities.
The regional officials also said it wouldn't be safe to move many people into a northern zone with no power and running water, which hasn't been cleared of unexploded ordinance.
Washington is skeptical Israel has made sufficient preparations for a secure civilian evacuation, several officials familiar with the conversations between the two governments said. Biden said on Friday he didn't expect a "massive" Israeli ground invasion to happen soon.
Furthermore, according to Hamas, the total victory promised by Netanyahu won't be quick or easy.
A Hamas official based in Qatar told Reuters that the group estimated it had lost 6,000 fighters during the four-month-old conflict, half the 12,000 Israel says it has killed.
Gaza's ruling group can keep fighting and is prepared for a long war in Rafah and Gaza, said the official, who requested anonymity.
"Netanyahu's options are difficult, and ours are too. He can occupy Gaza, but Hamas is still standing and fighting. He hasn't achieved his goals to kill the Hamas leadership or annihilate Hamas," he added.
Reuters
Israel Gaza War Updates
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Israel
Hamas
Rafah
Gaza
War
Attack
October 7
Palestinian
Egypt
Next
Hamas confirms submission of official response to hostage and ceasefire proposal: Official says
Recommended For You
d-none hideMe
0
Israel-Gaza War Updates
02:51
Israeli army's 162nd division launches operations to 'thwart terrorism' in Jabalia, northern Gaza
Israel-Gaza War Updates
02:51
Israeli army's 162nd division launches operations to 'thwart terrorism' in Jabalia, northern Gaza
0
Middle East News
00:46
Saudi and US Foreign Ministers discuss Lebanon's security and humanitarian crisis, Gaza ceasefire efforts
Middle East News
00:46
Saudi and US Foreign Ministers discuss Lebanon's security and humanitarian crisis, Gaza ceasefire efforts
0
Israel-Gaza War Updates
00:20
Gaza rescuers say 21 killed in Israel strike on mosque
Israel-Gaza War Updates
00:20
Gaza rescuers say 21 killed in Israel strike on mosque
0
Israel-Gaza War Updates
23:07
Several killed in Israeli airstrike on mosque in Gaza, medics say
Israel-Gaza War Updates
23:07
Several killed in Israeli airstrike on mosque in Gaza, medics say
Subscribe to our VOD
SUBSCRIBE
Our visitors readings
d-none hideMe
0
Lebanon News
13:40
Israeli strike on Nabi Younos in Jiyeh
Lebanon News
13:40
Israeli strike on Nabi Younos in Jiyeh
0
Lebanon News
00:05
Over 30 airstrikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs in heaviest night of Israeli aggression
Lebanon News
00:05
Over 30 airstrikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs in heaviest night of Israeli aggression
0
Middle East News
2024-09-18
Iran president says Lebanon blasts should shame Western allies of Israel
Middle East News
2024-09-18
Iran president says Lebanon blasts should shame Western allies of Israel
0
Middle East News
2024-07-30
Explosions at PMF base south of Baghdad in Iraq result in casualties
Middle East News
2024-07-30
Explosions at PMF base south of Baghdad in Iraq result in casualties
Videos
d-none hideMe
0
Middle East News
2024-10-03
British ship Cordelia Moon targeted in Red Sea attack, Yemeni media reports (Video)
Middle East News
2024-10-03
British ship Cordelia Moon targeted in Red Sea attack, Yemeni media reports (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2024-10-03
Russia delivers humanitarian aid to Lebanon (Video)
Lebanon News
2024-10-03
Russia delivers humanitarian aid to Lebanon (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2024-10-02
Late-night Israeli airstrikes in Beirut lead to thick smoke and targeted strikes
Lebanon News
2024-10-02
Late-night Israeli airstrikes in Beirut lead to thick smoke and targeted strikes
0
Middle East News
2024-10-01
Yedioth Ahronoth: Over 102 rockets launched from Iran, sirens sound across Israel (Video)
Middle East News
2024-10-01
Yedioth Ahronoth: Over 102 rockets launched from Iran, sirens sound across Israel (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2024-10-01
Iranian plane arrives in Latakia with humanitarian aid for Lebanese citizens fleeing to Syria (Video)
Lebanon News
2024-10-01
Iranian plane arrives in Latakia with humanitarian aid for Lebanese citizens fleeing to Syria (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2024-09-29
Israel strikes apartment in a building in Cola area in Beirut
Lebanon News
2024-09-29
Israel strikes apartment in a building in Cola area in Beirut
0
Lebanon News
2024-09-28
Video shows aftermath of intense Israeli strikes in Beirut's southern suburbs
Lebanon News
2024-09-28
Video shows aftermath of intense Israeli strikes in Beirut's southern suburbs
0
Lebanon News
2024-09-26
Explosion heard in Beirut’s southern suburbs as Israeli airstrike hits (video)
Lebanon News
2024-09-26
Explosion heard in Beirut’s southern suburbs as Israeli airstrike hits (video)
0
Lebanon News
2024-09-25
Israel targets Ras Osta, Bechtelida in Byblos district; announces ground operation plans
Lebanon News
2024-09-25
Israel targets Ras Osta, Bechtelida in Byblos district; announces ground operation plans
Most read
d-none hideMe
24 hours
7 days
Month
1
Lebanon News
13:40
Israeli strike on Nabi Younos in Jiyeh
Lebanon News
13:40
Israeli strike on Nabi Younos in Jiyeh
2
Lebanon News
15:58
Israel issues new evacuation order for Choueifat Amroussieh, Haret Hreik residents in Beirut’s southern suburbs
Lebanon News
15:58
Israel issues new evacuation order for Choueifat Amroussieh, Haret Hreik residents in Beirut’s southern suburbs
3
Lebanon News
15:44
Israeli army issues urgent evacuation warning for Borj El Brajneh residents in Beirut's southern suburbs
Lebanon News
15:44
Israeli army issues urgent evacuation warning for Borj El Brajneh residents in Beirut's southern suburbs
4
Lebanon News
18:12
Adraee warns residents of Borj El Brajneh, Laylaki, and Haret Hreik residents in Beirut's southern suburbs to immediate evacuate
Lebanon News
18:12
Adraee warns residents of Borj El Brajneh, Laylaki, and Haret Hreik residents in Beirut's southern suburbs to immediate evacuate
5
Lebanon News
18:55
Hezbollah: We launched a salvo of rockets at Israeli forces trying to evacuate dead soldiers from Manara settlement
Lebanon News
18:55
Hezbollah: We launched a salvo of rockets at Israeli forces trying to evacuate dead soldiers from Manara settlement
6
Lebanon News
16:18
Israeli strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs following Israeli army’s evacuation alert
Lebanon News
16:18
Israeli strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs following Israeli army’s evacuation alert
7
News Bulletin Reports
13:18
Inside Israel: Damage caused by Iran, Iraq, and Hezbollah amid field difficulties in South Lebanon
News Bulletin Reports
13:18
Inside Israel: Damage caused by Iran, Iraq, and Hezbollah amid field difficulties in South Lebanon
8
Lebanon News
08:48
Israeli Golani Brigade claims to uncover weapon depots and infrastructure in South Lebanon
Lebanon News
08:48
Israeli Golani Brigade claims to uncover weapon depots and infrastructure in South Lebanon
Download now the LBCI mobile app
To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world
Google Play
App Store
We use
cookies
We use
cookies
to make
your experience on this
website better.
Accept
Learn More