Israel estimates that intense military operations in the Gaza Strip will continue for another six to eight weeks, as it prepares to hold a ground exercise in Rafah near the border with Egypt.

This is what four sources familiar with the strategy told Reuters. According to two Israeli sources and two sources from the region, Israeli army commanders believe that they can inflict significant damage on Hamas’ capabilities during this period and pave the way for the next phase of less intense fighting.

An Israeli official said, "There is no chance that the Netanyahu government will respond to international pressure and cancel the operation in Rafah, the last stronghold under Hamas control."

According to the report, the Israeli army is preparing to enter Rafah, but has not yet explained how it will move more than a million people from the city to allow the ground maneuver to continue. An Israeli security official and an international relief agency said that residents may undergo examination before being sent from Rafah to the north, and another Israeli source said that Israel may build a “floating dock” to allow international aid and ships used as hospitals to dock near the Strip.

At the same time, an Israeli official said that residents would not be allowed to return en masse to the northern Gaza Strip. According to regional officials, transferring a large number of residents to the northern Gaza Strip is a dangerous step, given the lack of electricity or water in the area, and there are many unexploded explosive devices.