Over the past five days, Israeli ground troops have pushed deeper and deeper into Gaza in their war against Hamas, launched in response to a bloody Oct. 7 cross-border raid by the Islamic militant group. A growing array of units, including naval, air and ground forces, have joined the effort. The army says it has killed scores of militants and damaged Hamas’ strategic tunnel network. Soldiers have taken over abandoned Palestinian homes to stake out positions. Yet even as the operation expands each day, the army refuses to call it an invasion. Its vague choice of words is more than an issue of semantics. It appears to be a deliberate strategy aimed at keeping its enemy off balance and preserving its options as a lengthy war unfolds.
Quick Read
- Over the past five days, Israeli ground troops have advanced into Gaza in response to an Oct. 7 raid by Hamas.
- A variety of units (naval, air, and ground) have been deployed.
- The army has damaged Hamas’ tunnel network and taken strategic positions in abandoned Palestinian homes.
- Designation of the Operation:
- The army does not label it as an “invasion.”
- This terminology seems to be a strategy to keep Hamas off balance.
- In a classic sense, it resembles an invasion with continuous ground force operations.
- Tanks, artillery, infantry, bulldozers, and special forces are involved, supported by aerial backup.
- The army’s announcements suggest thousands of troops are involved, with numbers increasing.
- Palestinian Perspective:
- Palestinians describe Israel’s actions with terms like “massacre” and “genocide.”
- Over 8,000 Palestinians have died, with many buildings destroyed.
- Israeli Army’s Terminology:
- The army refers to its actions as “raids” and “operations” rather than an invasion.
- This reflects the fluid situation and seems to be a tactic to confuse Hamas.
- Israel has indicated intentions to maintain a presence in Gaza.
- Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu state the operation has entered a new phase.
- Israel’s Objectives:
- Return of all hostages.
- Destruction of Hamas, a group with fighters, rockets, bombs, missiles, and public support.
- Israel’s chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, refers to a methodical plan without naming it an “invasion.”
- Amir Avivi, a retired general, believes the army’s terminology is intentional for strategic reasons.
- Avivi suggests that to achieve objectives, Israel might need to conquer all of Gaza and spend extensive time dismantling capabilities.
The Associated Press has the story:
Has Israel invaded Gaza? Military has been vague, What’s next?
Newslooks- (AP)
IS IT AN INVASION?
In the classic sense of the word, an Israeli invasion appears to be underway.
Ground forces have moved into enemy territory and operated continuously since last Friday. While the army has given few specifics about the operations, it has acknowledged that tanks, artillery, infantry, bulldozers and special forces have taken part, all backed by aerial support.
The army has been vague about the location or size of its forces. But its announcements indicate that thousands of troops have joined the effort, with those numbers seeming to grow by the day.
The Palestinians have used far stronger language, referring to Israel’s ongoing bombing with terms like “massacre” and “genocide.” The ongoing offensive has killed over 8,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, and reduced thousands of buildings to rubble.
WHAT DOES THE ARMY CALL IT?
This reflects what is a fluid situation, as the number of troops fluctuates and, for the time being at least, Israel avoids trying to overwhelm Hamas with an overpowering number of ground troops.
These tactics appear to be aimed at confusing Hamas and leaving options for further action open. Still, Israel has made clear it will maintain a presence inside Gaza for a long time to come.
Over the weekend, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that operation had moved into a new phase.
“We have reached a new stage in the war,” Gallant said. “The ground in Gaza is shaking. The operation will continue until a new order.”
While visiting troops on Tuesday, Gallant added: “We are deploying forces on a large scale in the depths of Gaza.”
WHAT IS THE PLAN?
Israel has set two objectives: the return of all hostages and the destruction of Hamas, a militant group armed with thousands of fighters, rockets, bombs, anti-tank missiles and significant public support.
Israel’s chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, routinely refers to a methodical plan to achieve these goals, even if he does not call it an invasion. “Our offensive operations will continue and intensify according to plan,” he said Tuesday.
Amir Avivi, a retired general and former deputy commander of the military’s Gaza division, says the vague terminology is intentional. “They don’t want the enemy to know what they are doing,” he said.
But Avivi, who now heads the Israel Defense and Security Forum, a group of hawkish former military commanders, said it is clear what will be needed to achieve the objectives.
“There is only one way to do this. They will have to conquer the whole Gaza Strip and spend months and months and months dismantling all the capabilities,” he said. “What does it matter what the army is saying?”
