The Gaza Strip is changing its face in what appears to be the cumulative result of a prolonged, precise, methodical, and intensive military operation. According to a report this morning (Monday) by Yossi Yehoshua, Rafah, once considered a major terror hub, no longer exists — neither above ground nor below. The IDF has completely destroyed all terror structures and tunnel infrastructure in the area.
Khan Younis, another terrorist stronghold, also suffered heavy damage, with the vast majority of it destroyed, except for a sensitive area defined as a humanitarian zone. In northern Gaza, Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, al-Atatra, and large parts of Gaza’s outskirts have been almost entirely wiped out. This is a different type of operation from previous patterns: instead of temporary raids and withdrawals, a sustained, precise, and well-planned ground incursion.
A Methodical Approach
Lieutenant Colonel David Cohen, outgoing commander of the Golani reconnaissance unit, who accompanied the fighting for the past 21 months, summarized the IDF’s new approach: “Previously we did it in a sprint,” he says. “Today we work slowly and systematically until the infrastructure is completely destroyed.”
Cohen, who has been present in every major combat zone in the Strip, delivers a clear message — this is not the same Gaza we knew before the war.
The Change is Visible to Civilians
Yehoshua emphasizes that the change is evident not only to the military eye but also to residents of the Otef (Gaza border communities). Citizens who once looked toward the Strip with fear now see the area and understand that the direct threat they lived with has nearly disappeared. This marks one of the most significant perceptual shifts since the campaign began.
Destruction of Hamas Infrastructure
Alongside the physical destruction, there has been a deep uprooting of Hamas capabilities — from operational headquarters to underground tunnels and command-and-control mechanisms. The patient but thorough method led by the IDF in the arena is producing clear results and confronts Hamas with a new reality devoid of infrastructure, maneuvering space, or logistical bases.
The current situation illustrates not only the depth of Israel’s penetration into the territory but also its ability to change the rules of the game. The methodical action replaces the deterrence that previously accompanied operations in the Strip, and ground control is creating a sense of security not seen in the South for years.
