On 13 May, 2004, the IDF launched an incursion into Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials describe the incursion as the largest military operation since Operation Defensive Shield in the Spring of 2002. Over the next 12 days, the IDF killed 58 Palestinians, including at least eight minors. During this period, seven IDF soldiers were killed in Rafah. In addition, IDF completely demolished 183 houses in Rafah, severely damaged dozens more, and caused extensive damage to the infrastructure as well as private property.

Early on in the operation, the IDF demolished 116 houses along the "Philadelphi route" which separates between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. Towards the end of the operation, the IDF demolished an additional 67 houses o which 44 were in the Brazil neighborhood, 18 in the a-Salam neighborhood, and 5 in Tel a-Sultan. Additional houses were destroyed in the Brazil neighborhood on the last day of the incursion.

The IDF scraped up the surface along many kilometers of roads throughout the Rafah, so that vehicles are unable to drive along them. In some locations, passage on foot is also very difficult. The electricity, water and sewage systems were destroyed. In some areas, repairs have already begun and electricity has been restored.