Following a unanimous Cabinet decision, the IDF swiftly executed a lightning move to seize the key border crossing to Egypt, raising the Israeli flag. With that deft move, Israel now has taken the initiative back and is poised to exert decisive pressure on Hamas.

It was a tactical surprise, sending tanks and infantry to secure key routes to the Rafah border crossing, and the international transit station as well. In the wee hours of the morning, an IDF officer shouted “Rafah is in our hands!” and soon after the Israeli flag was raised, sealing off a key exit route from Hamas terrorists and arms smugglers.

There were no Israeli casualties. 20 Hamas operatives were reported killed. There were no Palestinian civilian casualties reported. Israeli had warned eastern Rafah residents to evacuate the area temporarily with only hours notice before the troop movements began.

ציר פילדלפי pic.twitter.com/L6ZUkpXzLQ

— ינון מגל (@YinonMagal) May 7, 2024

What will be next? This was not the broad attack on Gaza but a perfectly executed tactical strike that improves Israel’s strategic position. Remaining still is the long-awaited pincer movement to surround the remaining Hamas battallions and the terror group’s leadership, attempting to secure release of the remaining hostages.

Estimates are that it will take a matter of weeks, but that, at last, Israel is back in the driver seat. After being double-crossed by the Biden Administration, which continues to withhold promised weapons, the Israeli action indicates that the national will act boldly to defend its interest, achieve its war aims, and get its people back.