Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, has said his country cannot have “total victory” over Hamas without engaging in Rafah.The densely populated city of Rafah is said to have an estimated 1.4 million Palestinians.Most of the residents in Rafah were displaced in Gaza and now forced to seek refuge in overcrowded tent camps, overflowing U.N.-run shelters, or cramped apartments.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu continues to emphasise the goal of dismantling Hamas’ military capabilities as a central objective of the conflict.Sources in Israel’s military says Rafah represents Hamas’ last major stronghold in the Gaza Strip, with previous operations having targeted and dismantled a significant portion of the militant group’s infrastructure.Despite these efforts, Hamas has managed to regroup in certain areas, maintaining its ability to launch attacks, even in northern Gaza, which was the initial focus of the offensive.