The ground offensive of the war in Gaza, which began on Friday night, is expected to expand in the coming days, in an attempt to harm Hamas' military and governmental power centers. Israel hopes that he will also help advance negotiations for a humanitarian deal that will include the release of some of the abductees.
Statement by the Chief of Staff: "The objectives of the war require a ground incursion - the best fighters are currently operating in Gaza" // IDF Spokesperson
Israel waited more than a week in an attempt to allow the deal to mature, but after receiving the impression that Sinwar was trying to buy time to delay the invasion of Gaza, it was decided to order the launch of the ground operation.
Part of the negotiations
The families of the abductees expressed concern that this would harm the chances of reaching a deal, but the opinion of Israeli professionals is the opposite: as Hamas is pushed into a corner, it will try to trade the cards it holds in an attempt to improve its situation. However, last night as well, Israel assessed that the chances of reaching a broad deal are low, but the talks are continuing, led by Qatar.
As part of these negotiations, Hamas requested that fuel be brought into the Gaza Strip, which it needs to maintain its military systems, and to operate the generators that enable the extensive network of tunnels and bunkers it built in Gaza.
Gaza Strip, tonight, photo: social networks
Israel adamantly refuses to do so, and has made it clear that it will only allow food and medicine to enter through Egypt. Israel will also allow the establishment of field hospitals to treat the wounded in Gaza, as well as to serve as an alternative to the hospitals Hamas uses as shelter.
On Friday, the IDF Spokesperson revealed the system built by Hamas around the main hospital in the Gaza Strip, Shifa, and as far as is known, similar systems were built around the other hospitals in the Gaza Strip.
The IDF's slow activity has several reasons. The first stems from the understanding that the war will be long, and that there is no reason to rush to a move that could get complicated. The desire now is to give the forces a "sense of capability," and their advance is being made under a crowded air force umbrella, in an attempt to hit as many Hamas terrorists as possible.
The second reason is the desire to ensure that a large-scale entry into Gaza is not exploited by Hezbollah to launch a parallel campaign in the north. Israel believes that the organization and its Iranian patrons seek to avoid this, partly out of fear of a direct confrontation with the United States.
Documentation: The launch from Syria to Israel // Credit: 27a
The Americans attacked pro-Iranian forces in Syria on Friday, and another aircraft carrier they sent crossed the Strait of Gibraltar on its way to the Persian Gulf.
However, it is believed that Hezbollah will seek to continue harassing the IDF on the northern border without deteriorating into war, as it did over the weekend. The IDF is careful to respond, but it too acts in a measured manner so as not to be dragged into an unwanted escalation.
The third reason is the understanding that a long campaign will require different military and civilian preparations. The intention is to carry out a "habituation" to activity in Gaza, and if there is no escalation in the north, there will be a partial release of the reservists and a gradual return of the economy to activity.
Reassure Judea and Samaria
Senior officials estimated that the current state of emergency will last about a month, after which most of the evacuees will be able to return to their homes, and work and studies will resume at maximum capacity. The intention is that the only ones who will remain in the status of evacuees for the long term are residents of the kibbutzim near the Gaza Strip, for whom other solutions will be required.
Riots in Judea and Samaria, Photo: AP
In parallel to the main arena in Gaza and the secondary arena on the Lebanese border, the security establishment is concerned about what is happening in Judea and Samaria. Despite the arrest of hundreds of Hamas operatives, in recent days there have been dozens of attempted attacks, and at the same time there has been an increase in attacks by Jews against Palestinians.
This issue came up in several conversations that senior American officials held with their counterparts in Israel, in which a clear demand was expressed to "calm the situation."
The Americans are also asking Israel to begin planning the day after the Gaza operation. They give Israel a full green light to fight Hamas (while avoiding harming the civilian population), but want to establish an address that will take over the government in the future.
Israel has so far refrained from doing so, but the issue is expected to be raised in various forums, and apparently also to provoke political controversy, because the preferred address of the Americans is the Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas.
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