But their halting progress is increasing the likelihood of an Israeli assault against Hamas in Rafah, the last major city in Gaza that Israeli forces haven’t taken. From Israel’s perspective, entering Rafah is the only way to complete its war aim of destroying Hamas as a military organization. Israeli officials say five months of fighting in Gaza would be for naught if Israeli forces don’t take out Hamas’s final bastion. Israel has said it would attack Hamas in Rafah only after an effort to move civilians out of harm’s way. Hamas, which named its Oct. 7 attack the “Al Aqsa Flood," wants to use the mosque as a rallying symbol for Palestinians, Israeli officials said.

Source: Wall Street Journal March 10, 2024 08:50 UTC