There are paramount concerns within the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) about the possibility of the political leadership canceling a planned ground invasion of Gaza, Israeli media reported on Monday.

According to Israeli sources, the IOF has been conveying its apprehensions to the political leadership, emphasizing that while there would be consequences to a ground invasion, there might be no alternative. The IOF's assessments indicate that a potential invasion of Gaza could last anywhere from two weeks to six months.

The Israeli KAN public broadcaster has revealed that the military completed its preparations for the ground invasion, yet there is no official approval at this point. This hesitation has raised concerns within the ranks, with warnings that delaying the ground invasion of Gaza could lead to a decrease in motivation among reservists.

For those in active service, it means that their discharge, initially expected to take place next month, could be postponed by at least four months. This extended service time raises concerns about the readiness and morale of the troops.

Alon Ben David, a military affairs analyst at Channel 13, said the prevailing sentiment within the IOF was that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was being hesitant and reluctant regarding the ground invasion. 

Ben David expressed his belief that Netanyahu's main concern is the potential loss of control once the ground invasion commences. The operation would then shift into the hands of the Minister of Security and the Chief of Staff, significantly reducing Netanyahu's influence on the situation.

Hezbollah complicating the situation

Netanyahu is hesitant about launching the operation, citing concerns about becoming entangled in both southern and northern fronts, Israeli media said.

These concerns come as the IOF faces a delicate balance between military necessity and the risk of political fallout. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, there is growing apprehension within the military regarding the potential delay or cancellation of a ground invasion.

Related News

'Israel' in talks to displace Palestinians to South Sudan

Israeli maritime police deliberately kill Palestinians off Yafa coast

The newspaper has reported that the Lebanese Resistance group Hezbollah could effectively keep the Israeli occupation preoccupied with its actions. By doing so, "Israel" would bear a disproportionate cost compared to the relatively minimal price paid by Hezbollah.

Moreover, a crisis of trust between Netanyahu and the Israeli occupation forces has emerged. After 17 days of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and continuous attacks against the Israeli occupation, a sense of frustration and blame is causing tensions to mount.

Netanyahu has expressed his dissatisfaction with the IOF, holding it accountable for the current situation. This has resulted in difficulty in making a decisive move towards a ground invasion of Gaza. Witnesses within the army's headquarters have described discussions as "unfocused" and "lacking strong civilian leadership".

Simultaneously, the situation along the Palestinian-Lebanese border area has grown increasingly complicated.

British newspaper The Telegraph has highlighted that clashes with Hezbollah at the Lebanese border are further complicating Israel's plans for a ground invasion of Gaza. The escalating confrontations in the north have delayed the strategic timeline.

According to reports cited by the British outlet, the Israeli occupation has postponed its ground invasion of Gaza due to the intensifying confrontations along the northern border with Lebanon.

Israeli Channel 14 quoted unnamed officials expressing reservations about moving into Gaza at this moment. The ongoing hostilities along the Lebanese border have reinforced the perception that the time was not right to launch a ground invasion.

'Israel', US can't figure out Nasrallah's intents: Israeli Media

Israeli media said that "Israel" and the United States are facing difficulty in figuring out the "intentions" of the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. 

"Since the beginning of the war in the south, Nasrallah has remained silent and launched a war of attrition against Israel on the northern border," Israeli journalist Yoni Ben-Menachem said, adding that "Israel must prepare for the worst scenario, where it will be forced to fight on two fronts at the same time."

Member of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, Hassan Fadlallah, declared on Saturday that Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is actively monitoring the developing situation in real-time. Fadlallah confirmed that Sayyed Nasrallah is supervising and orchestrating the situation through direct communication with Resistance field commanders, and he serves as the leader of this Resistance.

Fadlallah emphasized that the Resistance is well-prepared for various scenarios and that Sayyed Nasrallah plays a direct and active role in the ongoing battle, engaging with fighters at both the political and grassroots levels.

Read more: Netanyahu threatens Lebanese Resistance as critics dub him 'coward'