“We’ve got reached a brand new stage within the struggle,” Gallant mentioned. “The bottom in Gaza is shaking. The operation will proceed till a brand new order.”
Whereas visiting troops on Tuesday, Gallant added: “We’re deploying forces on a big scale within the depths of Gaza.”
WHAT IS THE PLAN?
Israel has set two targets: The return of all hostages and the destruction of Hamas, a militant group armed with hundreds of fighters, rockets, bombs, anti-tank missiles and vital public assist.
Israel’s chief army spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, routinely refers to a methodical plan to realize these targets, even when he doesn’t name it an invasion. “Our offensive operations will proceed and intensify in accordance with plan,” he mentioned Tuesday.
Amir Avivi, a retired normal and former deputy commander of the army’s Gaza division, says the imprecise terminology is intentional. “They don’t need the enemy to know what they’re doing,” he mentioned.
However Avivi, who now heads the Israel Protection and Safety Discussion board, a gaggle of hawkish former army commanders, mentioned it’s clear what might be wanted to realize the targets.
“There is just one approach to do that. They must conquer the entire Gaza Strip and spend months and months and months dismantling all of the capabilities,” he mentioned. “What does it matter what the military is saying?”
