Israel’s war against Hamas: why are incursions into Gaza possible, but not a ground offensive?

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Israel is responding to the Hamas massacre and kidnapping of more than 200 hostages on October 7 with massive airstrikes on Gaza. A large-scale ground offensive is also expected. But even more than two weeks after the start of the war, it has not yet started. However, on October 13, Israeli soldiers entered the Gaza Strip and conducted raids there. As a result, more of these types of actions took place.

An Israeli military spokesman announced on Monday that isolated ground forces had already been deployed in the Hamas-controlled area. “There were raids by tank and infantry forces during the night,” Daniel Hagari told journalists. “These are raids that kill terrorist groups as they prepare for the next phase of the war.” The Israeli army penetrated deep into the Gaza Strip. Hamas confirmed Israeli progress.

Means and goals limited

But what distinguishes such maneuvers from a ground offensive? Michel Wyss (36) of the Military Academy of ETH Zurich: “The resources deployed and the objectives are more limited than in a large-scale ground offensive. According to Israel, these actions were aimed at obtaining information about the whereabouts of the hostages.” It is not about much broader objectives, such as the destruction or powerlessness of Hamas.

Since last week, Hamas has already released four hostages. For this reason, it is unlikely that the major ground offensive is imminent now. According to a report in the New York Times, based on several unnamed US government officials, the US is urging the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 74, to postpone the ground offensive. Among other things, time must be gained to ensure the release of more hostages.

According to Wyss, special forces were likely deployed in previous Israeli maneuvers in the Gaza Strip. A large-scale ground offensive will require many more troops. “This means more time is spent on planning and preparation. “In addition, political and strategic considerations also appear to have led to the postponement of the ground offensive,” says Wyss.

“Huge challenge”

A major ground offensive could endanger the lives of the remaining hostages. According to Hamas, several hostages have already been killed in the Israeli airstrikes. Moreover, some experts expect major losses for the Israeli army in the event of a large-scale invasion. Wyss considers it unlikely that all hostages can be freed through raids. “The challenge and complexity of such a project would be enormous.”

Whether there will ultimately be a ground offensive, Wyss explains, depends on the goals set by politicians. “If the goal is to destroy or disempower Hamas, this can only be achieved through a ground offensive, if at all.” In just a few days, the Israeli army has already mobilized hundreds of thousands of reservists and moved tens of thousands of soldiers to the Gaza Strip border.

Source: Blick