The New York Times revealed that the Israeli occupation halted plans for a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip and replaced them with limited ground incursions. The newspaper, quoting American officials, explained that Tel Aviv’s halting of plans for a broad ground invasion “is in line with the proposal of the US Secretary of Defense.”

While the newspaper said, Sunday, October 29, 2023, officials from the Biden administration warned that it is difficult to know what Israel will ultimately do, because the increasing air strikes and expanded ground incursions in the past three days indicate a more aggressive stance.

On Saturday, October 28, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Israeli occupation forces entered the Gaza Strip on Friday to begin the “second phase of the war,” although he did not describe this step as an invasion.

Meanwhile, American officials said on Saturday that the incursions carried out by the Israeli occupation ground forces in Gaza so far are “smaller in scale and more focused” than what Israeli military officials initially described to the US Secretary of Defense and other senior American military officials.

The New York Times newspaper said that in fact, the initial Israeli invasion plans alarmed American officials, who expressed concern that they lacked achievable military goals, and that the Israeli occupation army was not yet ready to launch a ground invasion.

While an American official, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe planning for the war between the allies, said on Saturday that the Israeli occupation had improved its plans after coordinated efforts by Austin and other officials.

However, Biden administration officials insisted that the United States had not told Israel what to do and was still supporting a ground invasion.

While American officials say that other factors that likely influenced Israel's war planning are the potential impact on hostage negotiations and the fact that Israeli political and military leaders are divided over how, when, and even whether to invade.

But current and former Pentagon officials, as well as former American commanders who carried out military operations in urban areas, said on Saturday that Israel appears to be carrying out a phased operation, with smaller reconnaissance units advancing into Gaza “to identify Palestinian resistance sites, engage them, and identify points.” "Her weakness."