In a major development, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have successfully evacuated approximately 950,000 Palestinian civilians from the conflict-stricken Gaza Strip in a span of just two weeks since May 6, 2024. The IDF revealed this remarkable achievement on Monday, highlighting their efforts to prioritize the safety of the civilian population.

Furthermore, the IDF now controls a substantial portion – around 30-40% – of the city of Rafah, located in the eastern part of southern Gaza. This control extends beyond the previously minimal presence in the eastern sector. Nearly 60-70% of Rafah's population has already been completely evacuated, leaving roughly 300,000-400,000 civilians remaining near the Gaza coast in the Tel al-Sultan area.

Contrary to earlier predictions, the IDF managed to evacuate the civilian population without incurring a high death toll and within a shorter timeframe compared to anticipated estimates. Majority of the evacuated citizens have relocated to the northwest in al-Muwasi, while a smaller number have sought refuge in central Gaza. Additionally, a limited number of individuals have returned to Khan Yunis.

The battle for Rafah has presented significant resistance from four Hamas battalions, but the IDF reported that they had taken the terrorist group by surprise. Initially, the Hamas battalions demonstrated strong and united resistance, but recent indications suggest that they are either dispersing, fleeing, or concealing themselves for future guerilla-style confrontations. Tel al-Sultan may see a more formidable stand from Hamas, though it seems that the group's battalions haven't displayed the same level of resilience as observed during previous conflicts in Gaza City and Khan Yunis.

In another significant move, the IDF has achieved control over the majority of the Philadelphi Corridor that connects Gaza and Egypt. Destroying many of the cross-border tunnels, which served as Hamas' primary means of receiving weapons, the exact number of remaining tunnels is still unknown. The IDF acknowledged that obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the tunnel network has historically taken several months. Despite tensions resulting from the Rafah operation and the closure of the Rafah Crossing for humanitarian aid, military relations between Israel and Egypt remain intact.

Regrettably, the IDF provided no updates on the hostages held in Rafah, and the whereabouts of Gaza Chief Yahya Sinwar remain uncertain. It is possible that both the hostages and Sinwar may have been relocated outside Rafah in conjunction with the mass exodus of civilians. The IDF described the Rafah operation as complex, but nevertheless achieved significant victories while exercising great caution to avoid endangering Egyptian troops stationed nearby.

Moreover, large quantities of rockets, including long-range ones, were seized and destroyed by the IDF in Rafah, where Hamas was believed to have maintained a considerable arsenal. In a surprise move, the IDF also reinvaded Jabalia, where civilians were evacuated in a notably shorter span of time compared to Rafah. The IDF discovered additional tunnels in Jabalia and disrupted Hamas' attempt to establish a new command center for unified fighting. While it is expected that the Hamas fighters in Jabalia have fewer opportunities to flee, the IDF did not provide a specific timeline for concluding the operation in that region.

The IDF's operations have now turned towards dismantling the one to two Hamas battalions operating in central Gaza. Smaller force contingents are required for these actions as the central Gaza forces were comparatively smaller than those in Rafah. Should the IDF successfully dismantle all 24 Hamas battalions, it would signify a significant milestone in their objective to neutralize Hamas as a military entity. However, the political authority of Hamas and the return of the hostages may still remain unresolved aspects of the ongoing conflict.

While there are predictions that the fight against a potential Hamas insurgency may require considerable military resources until at least October, the IDF's progress in evacuating civilians and gaining control over crucial areas demonstrates a determined effort towards achieving stability and security in the region.