While society, the media, the army and political circles in Israel are pushing towards a ground operation to invade Gaza to complete the retaliatory war against the besieged Strip, Israeli reports have indicated political considerations that are pushing Netanyahu to “delay” the invasion, which seems imminent.

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority (“Kan 11”) reported, on Sunday evening, that “political considerations” are pushing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to postpone the ground military operation to invade Gaza, while the official Israeli channel indicated that the Israeli occupation army is ready for the ground maneuver and is awaiting... Orders were issued to invade the besieged sector.

This came amid reports of American pressure on Tel Aviv to conduct any ground operation to invade the Gaza Strip, in an attempt to exhaust the diplomatic efforts made by Washington with Qatar, in an attempt to push the resistance factions in the Gaza Strip to release Israeli civilian prisoners, which may happen. His frustration following the occupation army's invasion of the Gaza Strip.

"Kan 11" pointed to operational considerations that may also be a reason for postponing the ground operation that appears imminent, while it stressed that "the ground forces in the Israeli army are now ready" to invade the Gaza Strip, while it stated that the administration of US President Joe Biden is exerting pressure. To delay the ground invasion, in order to reach an agreement on "prisoners and missing persons."

This comes with escalating tensions on the northern front, with daily exchanges of fire between Palestinian factions and Hezbollah fighters, and the Israeli occupation army. It appears that the escalation at the border is still within the rules of engagement in effect between Hezbollah and Israel, but experts warn of the possibility of the war expanding into Lebanon through greater Hezbollah intervention if Israel launches a ground attack on Gaza.

The Israeli Minister of Security indicated that the violent air strikes launched by the occupation aircraft on the Gaza Strip “pave the way for the advance of ground forces,” while “Kan 11” pointed out that this did not come based on a recommendation from the military level, but rather orders that the Israeli army received from the leadership. Political.

The Israeli army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, stressed that the army is ready to invade the Gaza Strip, and will do so as soon as the decision is issued by the political level. The channel stated that “the forces have been prepared for days,” warning of “complacency and exhaustion” among the soldiers, while Netanyahu's office refuses to address any questions regarding the ground operation or its timing.

"Kan 11" pointed out the costs that might result from delaying the ground operation, and pointed to the operation carried out by the resistance factions against an occupation army force that penetrated the area adjacent to the separation fence inside the besieged Gaza Strip near "Kissufim", and resulted in the death of an Israeli soldier and the wounding of others with varying injuries. The channel said that such an operation may be repeated while forces are gathering in the vicinity of Gaza in preparation for the invasion of the Strip.

During his daily press conference, the Israeli army spokesman, Hagari, said on Sunday evening, “We are working to prepare the area to reduce the risks to the soldiers who will enter the Gaza Strip. That is why we are attacking forcefully from the air and we will continue in this manner until we carry out the invasion.” He continued, "We are ready for the maneuver, and when the political level approves of it, we will move."

Possible agreement on civilian prisoners?

On the other hand, Channel 12 and Israeli Army Radio indicated various considerations that might be behind the delay of the ground operation, which has become a popular demand in Israel to invade Gaza as part of the retaliatory war launched by the occupation authorities on the Strip, and Channel 12 stressed the issue of timing.

According to Channel 12, the three considerations that move Israeli officials regarding the issue of timing are, first: the issue of prisoners and missing persons, and whether it is actually possible to exhaust a major movement led by Washington and the countries of the region in the coming days.

The second consideration, which Channel 12 pointed out, is the escalation of threats and attacks against American interests in the Middle East, and the preparations that Washington is making to “optimally deal” with the escalation of these attacks. It also considered that the third consideration is the Israeli leadership’s awareness that the ground operation will take time, and should be initiated after reaching ideal operational conditions.

Meanwhile, a member of the Israeli cabinet and Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, issued a brief statement in which he said, “Any approval to bring sustainable aid into the Gaza Strip without releasing all the abductees (civilian prisoners held by the resistance factions) is a continuation of the ideas and concepts that led us to this point.” Where we are today: a humanitarian (measure) only in exchange for the release of all the kidnapped people!”

In turn, Israeli Army Radio indicated two central reasons, the first of which is to give an opportunity to the efforts being made to try to reach an agreement to release prisoners held by the resistance factions in the Gaza Strip, while the second consideration is to “complete the readiness of the forces, including an attempt to obtain greater A certain amount of intelligence information about the situation inside the Gaza Strip.

To discuss all these considerations, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, will hold a session of the Israeli mini-war cabinet, with the participation of the Minister of Defense, Yoav Galant, and the former Minister of Defense, Benny Gantz, to hold further discussions on the development of the war waged by the occupation on the Gaza Strip.

Channel 12 pointed out that Netanyahu is conducting various security consultations even with security figures who do not participate in approved security forums, including the war cabinet and the expanded cabinet. The channel quoted Netanyahu as saying: “We need to buy time. Hamas not only planned the attack, but "I planned defense as well. Entering now would be in Hamas' interest."

During his conversation with retired General Yitzhak Brik, the latter advised him to “concentrate the intense aerial bombardment and the stifling humanitarian grip on the Gaza Strip,” considering that “the ground invasion carries within it the danger of a regional war, and therefore it is necessary to prepare for it, whether at the level of readiness of the Israeli army or at the level of The home front.

Earlier, Sunday, the Minister of Occupation Security, Yoav Galant, announced that the expected ground war in the Gaza Strip “may take months,” during his participation in a session of the Air Force Operations Command, near the border with the Gaza Strip. Gallant said: "There is nothing that can stop the army. The operational aspect of the maneuver is a combination of two things: one, air capability and the other, ground warfare."

He added: "The ground war in Gaza must be the last there, for the simple reason that there will be no Hamas after it." He continued: "It will take a month, two months, three months, but in the end there will be no enthusiasm." Meanwhile, the Israeli army announced that it was intensifying its air attacks on the Gaza Strip with the aim of “reducing the threats that may face our forces, in preparation for the next phase of the war,” in reference to a ground war.

On Sunday evening, Biden held telephone conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and they agreed after a second convoy of humanitarian aid entered Gaza from Egypt that this aid “will continue to flow,” according to a White House statement. The statement said that Biden and Netanyahu confirmed during telephone conversations that “this vital aid will continue to flow to Gaza.”

Source: Arab 48