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
30
o
Bekaa
31
o
Keserwan
30
o
Metn
30
o
Mount Lebanon
26
o
North
29
o
South
29
o
Live
Video
Audio
Schedule
shows
العربية
watching now
Catchy Talk
SUBSCRIBE
Home
Notification
Live
Video
Audio
shows
Beirut
30
o
Bekaa
31
o
Keserwan
30
o
Metn
30
o
Mount Lebanon
26
o
North
29
o
South
29
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
Series
Movies
Documentaries
Variety
Comedy
Talk Show
News Bulletin
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
19-02-2024 | 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
Health ministry in Gaza says 1,042 killed since Israel resumed strikes
Recommended For You
d-none hideMe
0
Israel-Gaza War Updates
03:49
WHO chief says Gaza hospitals on 'brink of collapse'
Israel-Gaza War Updates
03:49
WHO chief says Gaza hospitals on 'brink of collapse'
0
Israel-Gaza War Updates
14:11
Moves to recognise Palestinian state sends Israel message on 'illusions' of continuing occupation: Palestinian minister to AFP
Israel-Gaza War Updates
14:11
Moves to recognise Palestinian state sends Israel message on 'illusions' of continuing occupation: Palestinian minister to AFP
0
Israel-Gaza War Updates
10:22
UN warns on supplies for famine-stricken north Gaza after Israel shuts crossing
Israel-Gaza War Updates
10:22
UN warns on supplies for famine-stricken north Gaza after Israel shuts crossing
0
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2025-09-17
Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli ground operation in Gaza City 'in strongest terms'
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2025-09-17
Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli ground operation in Gaza City 'in strongest terms'
Subscribe to our VOD
SUBSCRIBE
Our visitors readings
d-none hideMe
0
Middle East News
08:13
Shooting wounds two at Jordan-West Bank crossing
Middle East News
08:13
Shooting wounds two at Jordan-West Bank crossing
0
Lebanon News
02:46
Lebanese journalist and actress Yumna Sherry dies at 55 in Canada
Lebanon News
02:46
Lebanese journalist and actress Yumna Sherry dies at 55 in Canada
0
Middle East News
2025-06-12
Iran launches military drills focused on “enemy movements”
Middle East News
2025-06-12
Iran launches military drills focused on “enemy movements”
0
Middle East News
05:02
Syria to strike security deals with Israel by end of 2025: Ministry official to AFP
Middle East News
05:02
Syria to strike security deals with Israel by end of 2025: Ministry official to AFP
Videos
d-none hideMe
0
Lebanon News
2025-09-07
Lunar eclipse captivates Lebanon: watch the stunning video
Lebanon News
2025-09-07
Lunar eclipse captivates Lebanon: watch the stunning video
0
Lebanon News
2025-08-31
LBCI correspondent reports from Nabatieh as residents clear rubble after Israeli strikes
Lebanon News
2025-08-31
LBCI correspondent reports from Nabatieh as residents clear rubble after Israeli strikes
0
Lebanon News
2025-08-29
Unprecedented step: Lebanon funds kidney transplants for all qualified patients
Lebanon News
2025-08-29
Unprecedented step: Lebanon funds kidney transplants for all qualified patients
0
Lebanon News
2025-08-28
US envoy Barrack clarifies ‘animalistic’ comment, says media ‘just doing their job’
Lebanon News
2025-08-28
US envoy Barrack clarifies ‘animalistic’ comment, says media ‘just doing their job’
0
Lebanon News
2025-08-26
US congressional delegation in Beirut discusses disarmament of Hezbollah, LAF support, Israeli perspective
Lebanon News
2025-08-26
US congressional delegation in Beirut discusses disarmament of Hezbollah, LAF support, Israeli perspective
0
News Bulletin Reports
2025-08-23
40 years of LBCI: A look back at its milestones
News Bulletin Reports
2025-08-23
40 years of LBCI: A look back at its milestones
0
Lebanon News
2025-08-17
President Aoun: Hezbollah's weapons are an internal matter, US proposal is now a Lebanese paper
Lebanon News
2025-08-17
President Aoun: Hezbollah's weapons are an internal matter, US proposal is now a Lebanese paper
0
Lebanon News
2025-07-15
Pregnant journalist Petra Abou Haidar attacked in road rage assault
Lebanon News
2025-07-15
Pregnant journalist Petra Abou Haidar attacked in road rage assault
0
Lebanon News
2025-07-01
Massive fire erupts at unregulated dumpsite in Bchannine, Zgharta district
Lebanon News
2025-07-01
Massive fire erupts at unregulated dumpsite in Bchannine, Zgharta district
Most read
d-none hideMe
24 hours
7 days
Month
1
News Bulletin Reports
13:10
Beirut Port explosion investigation turns a corner with arrest of MV Rhosus owner
News Bulletin Reports
13:10
Beirut Port explosion investigation turns a corner with arrest of MV Rhosus owner
2
Lebanon News
13:52
Israeli airstrike kills two in Baalbek: Health Ministry
Lebanon News
13:52
Israeli airstrike kills two in Baalbek: Health Ministry
3
Lebanon News
13:07
Israeli airstrike targets car in Baalbek, casualties reported
Lebanon News
13:07
Israeli airstrike targets car in Baalbek, casualties reported
4
News Bulletin Reports
12:49
A year later: Inside Israel’s unprecedented pager attack on Hezbollah
News Bulletin Reports
12:49
A year later: Inside Israel’s unprecedented pager attack on Hezbollah
5
Lebanon News
02:46
Lebanese journalist and actress Yumna Sherry dies at 55 in Canada
Lebanon News
02:46
Lebanese journalist and actress Yumna Sherry dies at 55 in Canada
6
News Bulletin Reports
13:00
High-stakes Israeli-Syrian security talks held in London ahead of UN summit
News Bulletin Reports
13:00
High-stakes Israeli-Syrian security talks held in London ahead of UN summit
7
Lebanon News
04:34
Justice Minister Adel Nassar oversees Lebanon-Bulgaria coordination on Rhosus ship owner extradition
Lebanon News
04:34
Justice Minister Adel Nassar oversees Lebanon-Bulgaria coordination on Rhosus ship owner extradition
8
Lebanon News
07:57
Lebanon’s new authorities slow to act amid rising assaults on UN forces, says Samir Geagea
Lebanon News
07:57
Lebanon’s new authorities slow to act amid rising assaults on UN forces, says Samir Geagea
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