Gaza: Long campaign by Israel may follow war

The most intense fighting could be ending, but Gaza could see Israeli action for a long time to come.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUK General ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersGaza: Long campaign by Israel may follow war23 hours agoBy Sebastian Usher, BBC Middle East analystShareEPAThe war has been going on since the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 OctoberIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent comments that the intense phase of fighting in Gaza was about to end essentially confirmed what has become increasingly clear in the past few months.

The Israeli army has portrayed its current operation in the southern city of Rafah as its last major ground offensive in Gaza.

It went ahead, despite concerted international opposition. It has involved Israeli strikes that have killed large numbers of Palestinian civilians. But it has not seen the remorseless level of bombardment that characterised earlier assaults on Gaza City and Khan Younis.

Israeli forces backed by tanks are still battling with Palestinian fighters in the west of Rafah, while the army continues to demolish swathes of buildings in the city.

The IDF has said that it has severely degraded three of the four Hamas battalions that it has said remain in Rafah, which was Israel's main aim. That holds out the possibility that the army may soon declare that the operation has been completed.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80xlvkx92go

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