President Biden expressed his strongest criticism yet of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, stating that their conduct in the Gaza Strip has been excessive and must cease. These remarks coincide with Israel's plan to evacuate civilians in the southern city of Rafah for their upcoming ground operation, as more than 1.3 million people are seeking refuge there.
The feasibility of such an evacuation operation is questionable, especially considering the challenges presented by the massive population in Rafah. The sheer number of civilians in need of relocation makes the task seem unrealistic. It is essential to note that the majority of these individuals come from northern and central Gaza, essentially comprising the original population of Rafah. This modest town, initially accommodating approximately 152,000 people, is now sheltering 1.3 million individuals. Concerns arise regarding where these displaced individuals might be relocated, as the Egyptian government has reservations about accepting them permanently, fearing the impact on their own population.
It is also crucial to consider that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are still conducting military operations in the areas where these civilians might potentially return. This raises safety concerns, making it impractical to send them back to central or northern Gaza. Additionally, relocating them into Israel is highly unlikely.
Reports from Gaza indicate that at least a dozen civilians were killed in Rafah due to an Israeli airstrike, while the IDF claims it targeted and killed two senior Hamas militants. It becomes increasingly important to assess the efficiency of Israel's military campaign and determine whether further action is necessary to achieve their objectives.
From a military standpoint, it is argued that the Israelis may have exhausted their available targets through aerial strikes. Approximately 85% of Gaza has been severely damaged or destroyed, leaving little left for further destruction. With 2.3 million people residing in this region, this level of devastation is of great concern.
One possible military objective that remains is the capture or elimination of Hamas leaders residing in Gaza, such as Yaya Sinwar. However, such a mission typically involves special operations forces and targeted strikes, as demonstrated in prior operations against Qatayib Hezbollah officials in Iraq. The current approach by Israel, described as using a sledgehammer against a fly, has drawn criticism for its disproportional impact on the civilian population.
As the situation continues to unfold, it is clear that there is limited military gain to be achieved through continued bombing and house-to-house operations. The focus should be on a more targeted approach to neutralize high-value targets, rather than subjecting innocent civilians to further harm.
