From pushing towards a comprehensive and broad ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, to limited ground operations coinciding with the cutting off of communications and the Internet from the northern Strip; What does the occupation aim by not following the expected pattern of invasion and replacing it with limited incursions in its war on the Gaza Strip?

On the twenty-third day of the war it is waging against the Gaza Strip, the Israeli occupation army expanded its military operations, announcing an increase in the number of its forces fighting inside the Strip and the intensification of ground operations there. While the calls and expectations indicated a ground invasion through a wide and intensive operation, the ground operations of the occupation come Under a canopy of fog and through sporadic attacks north of the besieged sector.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (“Kan 11”) stated that the Israeli army aims, through these night ground operations, which coincide with cutting off the Internet and communications network in large areas in the northern Gaza Strip, to kill the largest number of resistance faction fighters, and to benefit from these operations in efforts to restore Prisoners and hostages of the Hamas movement, and “confusing” and misleading the resistance factions.

According to the official Israeli channel, the Israeli army aims, through these operations, which represent a limited invasion of the areas of the northern Gaza Strip, which include advancing, then withdrawing, advancing again, then retreating, in conjunction and coordination with air force operations and intense air strikes, to lure Hamas fighters and reveal their locations.

Since the start of ground operations last Friday, the occupation army has confirmed that an officer was seriously injured and a soldier was moderately injured in two separate clashes with resistance members in northern Gaza, with Hamas confirming that its fighters are engaged in “violent clashes” with the Israeli army in Gaza in light of the expansion of ground operations inside the besieged Strip. .

The military and political leaders in Israel are seeking to put pressure on Hamas through these operations, with the aim of pushing for a deal to release prisoners and hostages.

The channel pointed out that “Israeli estimates that the expansion of operations and the ground invasion of the Gaza Strip will increase pressure on the Hamas movement and push it to complete a prisoner exchange deal, have been transformed into practical steps,” which was confirmed by the Minister of Defense, Yoav Galant, during a meeting held earlier, on Sunday. With the families of Israeli prisoners held by the resistance factions in the Gaza Strip.

"Kan 11" said that the ground operations and limited invasion of the northern Gaza Strip also aimed to "create confusion" among the Hamas movement and mislead Hezbollah about the continuation of the war and the development of military operations, and added, "It is not clear whether this step may be followed by a comprehensive invasion of Gaza City." Or whether the army will continue its limited ground operations.”

The channel stated, “The army is keeping this card to itself (a complete invasion or intensive and limited ground operations), and the pictures will not become clear except with the continuation of combat operations.” Meanwhile, a senior Israeli official told the Ynet website that “the ground invasion in the Gaza Strip is proceeding according to what we deem appropriate.”

While Israeli reports questioned Hamas’ intention to reach a deal through which to release Israeli prisoners and hostages held by the resistance factions in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli official said, regarding the prisoners’ file, “We are continuing to hold talks and try to achieve a breakthrough in conjunction with the ground entry.”

He continued, "We decided that we could advance the ground incursion at the same time as dealing with the issue of the kidnappers and hostages, and that the same incursion could also serve the kidnappings and missing persons and could put pressure on Hamas. In other words: negotiations regarding the kidnapped and missing persons are under fire."

On the other hand, the Israeli army spokesman said that his calls for the Palestinians to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip and head to the south have now become an urgent matter. Daniel Hagari said, "For the past two weeks, we have been calling on residents of the northern Gaza Strip and Gaza City to move south temporarily." He added, "We confirm today that this is an urgent appeal." He reported that the number of people confirmed to have been held hostage in Gaza since the Hamas attack on October 7 had risen to 239.

On the other hand, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, confirmed that its fighters continue to “confront the Zionist forces penetrating into the Al-Amriyya area northwest of Beit Lahia.” It added that its fighters "engaged with them (the forces) in armed clashes and targeted enemy vehicles with Al-Yassin 510 tandem shells and mortar shells, and carried out several sniper operations."

Al-Qassam added, "The enemy admitted that a number of its soldiers were injured in the clashes with our fighters, who are still targeting the enemy forces." In a second statement, Al-Qassam said: “We targeted, with Al-Zawari’s suicide plane, a gathering of enemy vehicles in the Al-Amiriya area, northwest of Beit Lahia.”

Meanwhile, local sources in the Gaza Strip reported that occupation aircraft and warships fired heavy fire towards the area where Al-Qassam fighters confronted the invading Israeli forces. Meanwhile, Israeli reports indicated ground operations on more than one axis in the northern Gaza Strip, and clashes with resistance elements.