Hamas’s Worst Fear: Will Gaza City End Up Like Rafah and Khan Yunis?
The IDF is planning a major offensive on Gaza City, potentially demolishing numerous towers, as a strategic move to weaken Hamas, amid debates over a hostage deal or full-scale conquest.
As of August 26, 2025, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are gearing up for a potential conquest of Gaza City, with plans that may involve demolishing numerous high-rise buildings, according to security sources. Following a critical security cabinet meeting, the IDF is evaluating three scenarios: a full-scale takeover of Gaza City, a partial hostage release deal, or a broad operation targeting the city’s core from air and ground. A senior military official stated in a closed forum, “Hamas understands that capturing Gaza City will turn it into another Rafah or Khan Yunis, utter destruction.” The official noted Hamas faces intense public pressure, pushing them toward negotiations, as “they want a deal to avoid this fate.”
Security sources emphasized that after 690 days of conflict, Gaza City remains a strategic hub for Hamas’s leadership, making it a critical vulnerability. Another defense official remarked, “If we had known from the war’s outset what Gaza City means to Hamas, we would have acted differently. The IDF should have targeted it as their weak point long ago.” The military believes Hamas fears losing the city, which could mirror the devastation seen in Rafah and Khan Yunis, where over 60% of buildings were destroyed, per UN estimates.
Tensions within the IDF’s senior ranks are high, with some generals advocating continued pressure on Hamas to strengthen Israel’s negotiating position, while Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir supports a partial deal to save hostages, with 20 of the 50 remaining believed alive. Politically, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu favours a hostage deal but insists on Hamas’s disarmament to end the war, aligning with broader diplomatic goals involving Syria, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia. U.S. President Donald Trump’s influence is seen as pivotal in shaping the operation’s timeline, which involves evacuating an estimated one million residents from a 4x6 km area. The IDF has begun preliminary operations, including reservist call-ups of up to 60,000 troops, and is preparing for mass displacement to southern Gaza, raising humanitarian concerns amid warnings of famine from the UN.