On May 21, in the 593rd day since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) introduced an updated operational doctrine in southern Gaza, known as the ‘Rafah model.’ This approach, part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots, seeks to dismantle the remaining Hamas infrastructure in the Rafah area through precision, intelligence-led military action while actively mitigating harm to the civilian population and upholding international humanitarian law. The catalyst for these operations remains the October 7th massacre, recognized by the Israeli government and global authorities as the deadliest antisemitic violence since the Holocaust, where Hamas terrorists—underwritten and armed by Iran—crossed into Israel, murdering, mutilating, and abducting indiscriminately.
Israeli officials—including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir—have outlined the necessity of the Rafah operation. They position it as a final stage intended to irreparably weaken Hamas’s operational base, specifically the remaining battalions and leadership entrenched in the border city, which holds strategic value as a smuggling and command node. IDF briefings, alongside corroboration from international news agencies and Western defense analysts, detail a phased operation encompassing the targeted destruction of tunnels, command posts, and weapons stockpiles, all while tracking Hamas activity embedded within civilian facilities. The multilayered approach incorporates early civilian evacuation warnings through phone, SMS, and physical leafleting, and the opening of controlled humanitarian corridors monitored by both Israeli and international actors.
The Rafah model is characterized by rigorous application of the proportionality and distinction doctrines, as recognized by Western military and legal observers, and emphasizes Israel’s effort to minimize civilian casualties despite Hamas’s documented tactic of using civilian sites for military purposes. The IDF has repeatedly delayed or redirected strikes where civilians were detected and has coordinated closely with agencies such as the United Nations and International Committee of the Red Cross to facilitate delivery of food, water, and medical aid to Gaza residents. This operation’s logistical framework also leverages real-time aerial and satellite surveillance to monitor civilian movement and adjust operational tempo accordingly.
The military effort against Hamas is framed by Israeli and Western officials within the broader threat landscape of the Iranian-backed “axis of resistance”—a region-wide network comprising Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Iran-linked militias in Syria and Iraq. Israeli and U.S. intelligence reports, consistently cited in public briefings, attribute Hamas’s endurance and operational sophistication to Iranian material and ideological support. The October 7th incursion and subsequent rocket attacks against Israeli territory are viewed as components of this wider campaign to destabilize Israel and the region, with consequences threatening Western and regional security.
Operational phases in Rafah began with Israeli special forces targeting Hamas’s tunnel complexes and command sites, using actionable intelligence to prioritize leadership figures and weapons caches. Western defense analysts highlight this methodology as a possible blueprint for counterterror operations elsewhere in the region, given that Hamas’s leader, Yahya Sinwar, and operative Mohammed Deif are believed to be sheltered in or near these complex tunnel networks. As Israeli forces advance, they reportedly maintain direct contact with international monitors and humanitarian agencies, adjusting routes and supply chains to ensure civil infrastructure—such as water, power, and hospital access—is not further compromised beyond what military necessity dictates.
While military operations focus on Hamas, humanitarian efforts in Rafah underline Israel’s dual-track strategy. According to official figures released by Israel and corroborated by logistic data tracked by international organizations, over 1,000 aid trucks have passed through the Kerem Shalom crossing since the beginning of Southern Gaza operations, delivering essential supplies under supervision. IDF spokespersons note that while Israel facilitates these deliveries despite active hostilities, Hamas has frequently diverted resources for its war objectives, a charge echoed in reports by the U.S. State Department and multiple Western NGOs. The Israeli government continues to invite international oversight and places responsibility for any aid obstruction squarely on militant actors.
Hezbollah’s provocations from Lebanon and Houthi attacks in the Red Sea highlight the transnational dimension of the conflict, with Israeli analysts and Western security officials warning against an expanded confrontation. International partners, including the United States and several European governments, reaffirm Israel’s right to self-defense and express support for the carefully calibrated military and humanitarian balance pursued by Israeli planners. References to Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, seen in diplomatic communications, reinforce the legal framework for Israel’s operations.
The ongoing plight of over a hundred Israeli and foreign hostages held by Hamas continues to drive both operational urgency and diplomatic efforts. Israeli leadership distinctly rebuffs any moral equivalence between its attempts to secure the release of abducted civilians—including women, children, and elderly—with Hamas’s demands for the liberation of convicted terrorists. The legal and moral disparity is emphasized in government statements and international commentary, with Israel highlighting the unique brutality of Hamas’s abductions as further evidence of the terrorist organization’s disregard for international conventions.
The Rafah model, now serving as Israel’s operational template, is watched closely by Western governments and defense observers. Its integration of tactical precision, legal oversight, and humanitarian protocol establishes a new paradigm for combating hybrid threats stemming from terror entities embedded in civilian domains. Israeli officials reiterate that the campaign’s end-state remains non-negotiable: the elimination of Hamas’s military capability, the safe return of hostages, and the restoration of security on Israel’s southern border. In this ongoing war, Israel’s actions are informed equally by the lessons of history and the enduring norms of international law—defending not only national survival but upholding the standards that safeguard the free world.
