Tens of Thousands Expected in Israel Ground Offensive: "Largest Invasion Since 2006"

Amid ongoing clashes between the Palestinian armed faction Hamas and Israel, buildings in the Gaza Strip were destroyed by Israeli airstrikes on the 13th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

Israel is reported to be deploying tens of thousands of troops for a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip against Palestinian Hamas, marking the largest incursion since the 2006 Lebanon War.

The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 14th (local time) that tens of thousands of soldiers will be involved in this ground operation, citing Israeli officers who said the goal is to eliminate the leadership of Hamas, the Palestinian armed faction that led the surprise attack on Israel on the 7th.

This military operation is expected to be the largest since Israel invaded Lebanon in response to the Hezbollah armed faction kidnapping its soldiers in 2006. It will also be the first attempt to occupy the Gaza Strip since the First Gaza War in 2008, when Hamas and the Palestinian Authority (PA) fought a civil war.

Although the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not officially announced a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, they have stated that they are deploying troops nationwide with a focus on a major ground operation to prepare for the next phase of the war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also visited a military base on the outskirts of the Gaza Strip that day, saying, "Are we ready for the next phase? The next phase is approaching."

Daniel Hagari, the IDF’s chief spokesperson, said, "The goal is the annihilation of Hamas, which committed a massacre, and the elimination of its leaders," adding, "Hamas will no longer govern the Gaza Strip militarily or politically." Another IDF spokesperson said they are particularly focused on killing Yahya Sinwar, a senior Hamas official in Gaza City.

The Israeli mobile strike force conducting the military operation is reported to include infantry units as well as tanks, engineering corps, and special forces. The ground troops will be supported by fighter jets, attack helicopters, aerial drones, and artillery. The operation was originally planned for this weekend but was delayed by a few days due to cloudy weather, which made air support difficult.

Officers said that to facilitate the operation, the IDF’s rules of engagement have been relaxed, reducing the verification procedures before soldiers shoot individuals suspected of being enemies, though they did not disclose detailed information. Colonel Golan Bachi of the IDF said soldiers received additional training to fight in cities devastated by airstrikes. However, there are concerns that even with ground forces deployed, fighting Hamas?who are familiar with the terrain and skilled in guerrilla warfare?in the narrow and densely populated urban areas will inevitably result in significant casualties for the Israeli military.

Hamas has dug hundreds of miles of maze-like underground tunnels within the Gaza Strip and set various traps inside them. An anonymous Hamas official told the NYT that they will suddenly emerge from tunnels scattered throughout northern Gaza to attack Israeli forces from behind.

Hamas may also use Israeli hostages or Palestinian civilians as "human shields." It is practically impossible to distinguish between the estimated 30,000 Hamas members and civilians within the Gaza Strip. Therefore, if the Israeli ground forces are deployed without proper civilian evacuation and urban warfare ensues, there are concerns that civilians could be mistaken for Hamas members and tragically killed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.