US officials anticipate the conclusion of the current phase of Israeli ground invasion in the Gaza Strip in January, after which "Israel" is expected to shift to a less intense and localized strategy targeting fighters of the Palestinian movement Hamas, CNN reported, citing multiple senior administration officials.

The officials believe that the ongoing invasion by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in the southern part of the Strip will persist for several more weeks, with "Israel" unlikely to achieve its ultimate objective of weakening the Palestinian Resistance until the end of the year, the report added on Tuesday, although, thus far, 61 days into the war, the Resistance continues to fire rockets at the Gaza envelope settlements, slamming Israeli claims of weakening the Resistance and destroying headquarters.

Meanwhile, an unidentified Israeli official concurred with the assessment that the current stage of the invasion is expected to conclude within the next few weeks, as reported by CNN.
 
"We are in a high-intensity operation in the coming weeks, then probably moving to a low-intensity mode," the official said as quoted by CNN.

The "current phase" as referred to by both US and Israeli officials is described as the toughest so far despite it being concentrated in the south, subbed a "safe" zone by the Israelis and regardless of US calls and Israeli claims of a more "surgical", "focused" bombing to avoid mass civilian casualties, and the tens of massacres committed so far are the best proof of that. 

This comes as fierce confrontations continue along the eastern Khan Younis front as the Israeli occupation forces try to advance deeper into the Gaza Strip, according to Al Mayadeen's sources.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in the Strip also reported ongoing artillery bombardment in east Khan Younis, confirming confrontations in the area.

Our correspondent further explained that the advancement of the IOF on the Khan Younis front has been very slow, confirming at the same time the continued artillery bombardment of the al-Tuffah, al-Darj, and Shujaiya neighborhoods in Gaza City.

Earlier this morning, al-Quds Brigade claimed responsibility for targeting Israeli occupation military groupings in the settlements of "Nirim" and "Nir Oz" with rockets and shells.

Israeli media: Fear of war ending without victory

Israeli media have discussed a decline in confidence in the Israeli government, especially in recent years. They pointed out that operations and wars over the years that have not ended with "total victory" have led to a loss of confidence in the political leadership, especially amid internal divisions and corruption.

Political analyst Chai Klein said during an interview for Israeli Channel 7 that "confidence in the Israeli government has declined significantly in recent years," adding that "operations and wars that we have stopped before achieving victory have across the years made us lose confidence in the political leadership."

He continued, "Quarrels, trivial matters, corruption, and the lack of spirit on the part of Israeli leaders have diminished their stature and weakened their leadership and trust in them."

Israeli fears of not achieving any victory come amid significant losses suffered by the Israeli forces during their attempts to invade the Gaza Strip, in addition to their losses on the Palestine-Lebanon border, he further stressed.

Abu Hamza: Israeli occupation vehicles destroyed in Khan Yunis