'Israel's' ground invasion won't achieve goals in Gaza: Israeli media
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Israeli observers say that continuing with the current framework will not lead to significant changes and will result in a sense of purposelessness along with human losses among IOF soldiers and captives.
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Israeli military vehicles operate inside the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023 (AP Photo)
Multiple Israeli media reports on Sunday warned that a ground invasion alone will not suffice to achieve "Israel's" objectives in the ongoing war on Gaza.
The specified timeline for the operation, anticipated to last a few weeks, is not foreseen to result in significant accomplishments, such as defeating the Palestinian resistance or securing the release of captives.
Former Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee Ofer Shelah wrote on the Institute for National Security Studies website of the Tel Aviv University recommending a shift in military strategy for the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) third stage of the war.
This includes gaining control of the northern part of the Gaza Strip, conducting airstrikes in the southern region while withdrawing ground forces, and closing the so-called Philadelphi Corridor. A proposed location for a ceasefire is deemed necessary.
Shelah underscored that maintaining the current fighting framework will not bring substantial changes in the situation in the coming weeks. He points out that the loss of soldiers and captives will be coupled with a sense of purposelessness.
Read more: Israeli casualties doubled since 2014, blaming Gaza resistance tactics
In a recent analysis, The Economist contends that "Israel" may have no alternative but to scale back its offensive, emphasizing that its main ally and arms supplier, the US, advocates for reduced firepower.
The report further stated that, as the more intense phase of the aggression approaches its conclusion, "Israel" aims to convey to settlers that the Palestinian resistance is crumbling, and it now controls broad areas in the sector.
However, The Economist argues that this narrative falls short of presenting the triumphant image sought by Israeli settlers.
Highlighting that the resistance still has thousands of soldiers using tunnels to set traps for the IOF, the magazine maintains that "Israel" has not succeeded in eliminating the leadership of the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas or dismantling its infrastructure.
Read more: Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza receives limited aid amid chaos: WHO chief
Families of captives outraged by death of three captives
On Saturday, the families and relatives of captives took to the streets of "Tel Aviv" to demand that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government promptly renew talks on a prisoner exchange deal.
The protest was sparked by news of the killing of three Israeli escapees whom the IOF say they have "mistakenly" killed.
The IOF added that the escapees were "all without shirts and they have a stick with a white cloth on it. The soldier feels threatened and opens fire. He declares that they're terrorists, they (forces) open fire, and two are killed immediately."
He added that the third captive was wounded and went back into a nearby building to call for help in Hebrew.
Their death sparked outrage because it showed how militarily untrained and unprepared IOF soldiers are.
