Israel May Change Large-Scale Ground Invasion Plan... "Influence of Biden's Intervention"

Biden Agrees to Hamas Removal but Aims to Prevent Escalation
Ground War Plans May Change... "Duration Likely to Be Longer"
Israeli Source: "Strong US Role and Influence"

As Israel prepares to deploy a large-scale ground force in the Gaza Strip and launch retaliatory airstrikes against Palestinian armed factions, U.S. President Joe Biden is reportedly influencing Israel's operational plans, Bloomberg reported on the 19th (local time).

There had been speculation that Israel, after being attacked by Hamas, might launch a counteroffensive to occupy the Gaza Strip. However, with President Biden’s determination to minimize civilian casualties and prevent escalation being conveyed, analysts suggest that Israel’s strategy is undergoing changes.

President Joe Biden [Photo by AP News]

Bloomberg cited multiple sources familiar with the Israeli government and internal affairs, reporting that the U.S. is exerting influence as Israel plans how to conduct attacks while minimizing harm to the two million civilians in Gaza and how to proceed after the situation ends. Several Israeli government officials reportedly mentioned that the U.S.’s role and influence in this war with Hamas is deeper and stronger than ever before.

This news came just one day after President Biden visited Israel. During his visit and on the flight back to Washington, Biden was asked about the possibility of a large-scale Israeli ground attack and stated that both sides are discussing alternatives to a full-scale invasion of Gaza. However, he did not specify the details of these alternatives.

On the 17th, Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht said, "We are preparing for the next phase of the war. Everyone talks about a ground attack, but it could be something else," suggesting the possibility of changes to the ground troop deployment plans.

Initially, Israel was reportedly preparing for a full-scale assault on Gaza simultaneously by air, sea, and ground. As concerns about a potential Middle East war grew, U.S. Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, along with President Biden, visited Israel, resulting in plans being revised to conduct the ground war in a somewhat different manner.

Particularly, since Hamas has established military facilities based on underground tunnels and other ground structures, it appears that ground warfare, excluding air and sea operations, is considered crucial. To this end, the Israeli military is reportedly planning to start the ground operation later than initially planned and execute it in an unexpected manner over a prolonged period, Bloomberg reported.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

President Biden expressed full support for Israel while simultaneously warning against civilian casualties and escalation. In a speech in Israel the previous day, he conveyed a message not to repeat the mistake the U.S. made after the 9/11 terrorist attacks 22 years ago, when it rushed militarily to appease national anger without considering long-term consequences.

He cautioned that hasty and excessive retaliation could not only cause a humanitarian disaster but also fail to achieve the shared goal of destroying Hamas, a concern and warning.

Additionally, the U.S. is worried that Israel’s invasion could draw the Lebanese armed faction Hezbollah into the conflict. Analysts suggest that Biden is pressuring Israel to be cautious both when entering Gaza and when responding to Hezbollah’s attacks. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told Bloomberg in an interview, "President Biden is focused on reducing the possibility of the war expanding to other fronts. That is his core objective."

Michael Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., predicted that the U.S. would pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to engage in dialogue with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas and restore the 'two-state solution' between Israel and Palestine in Gaza.

However, The Guardian pointed out that for the Israeli government, which failed to prevent Hamas’s attack?the largest loss of life since the Holocaust (the Nazi genocide of Jews)?leaving Hamas in Gaza is not an option.

Manuel Trajtenberg, director of Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), told Bloomberg, "Israel is likely to accept the U.S. message and prepare ground operations in northern Gaza, where Hamas’s main base is located, while approaching the south cautiously." He added, "This operation is unlikely to end quickly, so Israel will need to justify a prolonged campaign."

If Israel partially shifts its approach from a full-scale ground deployment to a strategic one, the evaluation of President Biden’s visit to Israel?which some viewed as unsuccessful in achieving significant results?may change. The previous day, U.S. media outlets such as CNN and Politico reported that although Biden’s 'eight-hour half-schedule' visit helped address some humanitarian aid issues, it did not yield substantial outcomes in resolving the complex conflicts in the Middle East or preventing escalation.

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