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The New York Times: Israel’s political and military leaders are at odds over how and when to launch an invasion of the Gaza Strip, and whether to do so at all, though the military could begin operating as early as Friday. Some fear difficult urban fighting, others fear the involvement of the Lebanese group Hezbollah in the conflict. There is also debate over whether to conduct one major operation or a series of smaller ones. In addition, there is the question of who would govern Gaza in the event of an Israeli takeover.
▪️ The primary concern is the fate of the hostages, and the negotiations Qatar is having on the issue. The government wants to give more time for the women and children to be released. And there is a dispute between civilian and military officials over what to do if the talks fail. Netanyahu hasn’t signed off on the invasion plan because he needs unanimous approval from members of the military cabinet. By doing so, he has angered senior army officers. Analysts believe he is afraid of failure; in which case he alone would be responsible.
▪️ Ministers are considering a less ambitious plan involving several smaller incursions aimed at one small part of the enclave at a time.
▪️ The military establishment fears Israel’s goals will be diluted if Netanyahu follows through on his pledge Wednesday to simultaneously seek the release of all hostages and the destruction of Hamas. The former goal requires negotiation and accommodation with the Hamas leadership, while the latter requires its destruction. In this case, it is difficult to strike a balance.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/26/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-invasion-delay.html
