Israel is gearing up for a possible ground assault on the Gaza Strip, as the conflict with Hamas enters its third week. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have mobilized more than 360,000 reservists from around the world and have not ruled out sending them into combat to retaliate against Hamas and rescue more than 220 Israelis who were taken hostage by the militant group on Oct. 7.
The IDF said it launched 400 airstrikes in Gaza on Sunday, targeting Hamas commanders and additional Hamas troops, as well as destroying infiltration tunnels and rocket launchers. The IDF also said it thwarted an attempted invasion by sea by two Hamas terrorists who were spotted swimming toward Israeli territory from a tunnel on the coast of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.
According to Israeli officials, the ground operation would be a “three-phase” plan. The first phase has already started with an intense air bombardment and will continue with ground operations aimed at “neutralizing terrorists and destroying Hamas infrastructure”, in the words of Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant. The second phase will involve destroying any remaining resistance and this will be followed by the final phase, creating a substantial buffer zone around Gaza. With Hamas defeated, the strip will be cut loose from Israel and will presumably become the responsibility of the international community, perhaps including provision of power, water, food and other needs.
However, some experts warn that a ground invasion of Gaza would be a risky and costly move for Israel, and that it would not achieve its intended goal of eliminating Hamas. Chuck Freilich, a former deputy national security adviser in Israel and long-time senior fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School, told ABC News that despite being the far superior military force, Israel would face fierce resistance from Hamas fighters who have been preparing for such a scenario for years. He also said that a ground invasion would cause more civilian casualties, international condemnation and political backlash for Israel.
“This is a momentous decision for Israel, and it must absolutely get it right,” Freilich said. “This time, the stakes are so high.”
Amichai Magen, a visiting professor of political science and Israeli studies at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, told ABC News that the IDF also needed more time to lay out its military strategy and coordinate with its allies, especially the US. He said that Israel was trying to avoid a ground invasion if possible, but that it was also ready to act decisively if necessary.
“Israel is not looking for a war, but it is not afraid of one either,” Magen said. “It is trying to achieve its objectives through deterrence and diplomacy, but it is also prepared to use force if needed.”
The conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted on Oct. 7, when a small cell of Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel from a tunnel near the border with Gaza. The attack killed at least 1,400 Israelis, including 279 soldiers, and wounded more than 3,400 others. It was the deadliest attack on Israel since its founding in 1948. In response, Israel launched a massive military campaign against Hamas targets in Gaza, killing nearly 6,000 Palestinians, including more than 2,000 children, and wounding more than 16,000 others. A further 29 UN relief workers have been killed.
The international community has been calling for an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful resolution of the crisis. The US has been leading diplomatic efforts to broker a truce between the two sides, but so far without success. President Joe Biden has expressed his support for Israel’s right to defend itself, but has also urged it to avoid further escalation and civilian casualties. He has also pledged to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza and help rebuild its infrastructure.
The UN Security Council has held several emergency meetings on the situation, but has failed to issue a joint statement due to disagreements among its members. Some countries, such as France, Egypt and Jordan, have proposed their own initiatives to end the violence, but none have gained traction so far. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the attack on Israel and the indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza, but has also expressed his deep concern over the high number of civilian deaths and injuries in Gaza. He has called for an immediate halt to hostilities and respect for international humanitarian law.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas is the fifth since 2008. The four previous wars and related violence cost 5,365 Palestinian lives and 308 Israeli lives. In only one of the previous wars, July 2014, did the IDF mount a major ground incursion into Gaza – and its elite Golani Brigade then took serious losses.
Sources: Fox News, MSN, ABC News, The Guardian
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