Israel has taken action to put an end to the conflict with Hamas by entering Rafah — anticipate its success

The military operation in Rafah by Israel has finally begun in response to Hamas, after dismissing claims of a cease-fire deal. Hamas’ political chief claimed they had accepted a deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar, but Israel pushed ahead with its Rafah plan, deeming the cease-fire proposal insufficient.

It seems Hamas was stalling, anticipating an Israeli invasion and trying to delay the inevitable fall of Rafah. The IDF has Hamas in its sights, signaling trouble for the terror group’s defense in Gaza.

Despite President Biden’s efforts to deter Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from destroying Hamas in Rafah, Israel is committed to seeing the mission through with or without a deal.

Hamas hoped for a return to a previous state, but Israel remains resolute in its mission to defeat the threat posed by the group. Netanyahu’s actions, such as shutting down Al Jazeera, illustrate Israel’s determined stance.

The IDF’s order for Palestinians to evacuate Rafah indicates a strategic ground and air approach, aligning with their divide-and-conquer strategy employed since Oct. 7. Israel is prepared to achieve its goals while minimizing civilian casualties.

Despite pressure from the White House, Israel is focused on defeating Hamas due to its vital role in weapons-smuggling near the Egypt border. Sinwar and Khamenei’s willingness to escalate the conflict poses a challenge in the region.

Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Sweet served 30 years as a military intelligence officer, and Mark Toth writes on national security and foreign policy.