Due to the Hamas-Israel war, the whole world’s eyes and ears are on the Middle East. The New York Times (NYT), one of the most famous newspapers in the USA, talked with Israeli officers and wrote about the Israeli administration’s invasion plans in its news titled ‘Israel’s Occupation Plans Target Gaza City and Hamas Leadership’. According to information based on military officials, the Israeli army is preparing to invade the Gaza Strip soon with tens of thousands of soldiers who have been ordered to capture Gaza City and destroy its leadership.
According to three senior officials speaking in the news, the aim is to eliminate the top political and military hierarchy of Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls Gaza.
IT IS EXPECTED TO BE THE BIGGEST LAND OPERATION SINCE 2006
The attack is expected to be Israel’s largest ground operation since its invasion of Lebanon in 2006. It would also be Israel’s first operation to seize and hold territory, at least briefly, since it invaded Gaza in 2008, according to three senior military officials.
The Israeli army has not yet officially announced that it will invade Gaza. However, NYT’s news included information that the army confirmed that reconnaissance teams briefly entered the strip on Friday and that Israeli troops had increased their “preparations” for a land war.
HAMAS WILL TRY TO PREVENT
Tens of thousands of Hamas members are thought to have settled in hundreds of kilometers of underground tunnels and bunkers around Gaza City and northern Gaza. Israeli military leaders think Hamas will try to hinder the Israelis’ progress as they advance through the tunnels by blowing up some of the tunnels, detonating roadside bombs and booby-trapping buildings.
According to a Hamas official, Hamas is also planning to suddenly emerge from secret tunnels in the north of Gaza and ambush Israeli forces from behind.
The news also included the statement, ‘Three Israeli officers said, without giving further details, that the Israeli army’s rules of engagement had been relaxed to facilitate its soldiers’ operations, allowing soldiers to do fewer checks before firing on suspected enemies.’
AUTHORITIES: “THE OCCUPATION WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED FOR THE WEEKEND, BUT…”
According to the NYT, officials said the invasion was initially planned for the weekend but was postponed by several days, at least in part, due to weather conditions that would make it difficult for Israeli pilots and drone operators to provide air support to ground forces.
According to the news, sources added that the Israeli attack force will include tanks, sappers and commandos, as well as infantry. It was also said that ground troops would be protected by warplanes, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and artillery fired from land and sea.