Crucial International Call for Clarity: Israel Pressed to Define Objectives for Gaza Ground Invasion

US and Western officials have been urging Israel to articulate its strategic objectives clearly before launching a ground invasion of Gaza. They have specifically cautioned against a prolonged occupation and placed significant importance on minimizing civilian casualties. In private conversations with Israeli counterparts, Western defense officials have not discouraged the use of ground forces in Gaza. However, they have strongly emphasized the need for Israel to have well-defined goals in terms of weakening Hamas and avoiding a protracted occupation of the Gaza Strip.

A NATO defense minister told CNN that they respect the right of going after Hamas anywhere, but advises to consider the consequences and have a strategic approach rather than just a tactical maneuver. They expect Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law while acknowledging that they are dealing with an enemy.

President Joe Biden echoed this sentiment in an interview with "60 Minutes," stating that eliminating extremists is necessary for Israel, but emphasized that Hamas and its extreme elements do not represent all Palestinians. He believed it would be a mistake for Israel to reoccupy Gaza.

On October 17, 2023, within the Rafah refugee camp located in the southern Gaza Strip, a bakery diligently prepares bread rations to distribute to internally displaced Palestinians. Desperately needed relief convoys, after enduring days of delay in Egypt, are finally en route to the Rafah border crossing, destined for the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza. According to aid officials, this critical assistance aims to alleviate the dire conditions faced by the Palestinian population. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP) (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images)

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Israel-Hamas war rages as Gaza awaits aid in worsening conditions

Biden, during his visit to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, emphasized the importance of clarity and honesty in wartime leadership, urging for a careful evaluation of objectives and the chosen path to achieve them.

An Israeli official confirmed that discussions involving the US and other allies regarding this matter are currently underway. Furthermore, a senior Israeli official expressed on Friday that Israel is actively addressing humanitarian issues in collaboration with the US government. They also attributed the situation of the 2 million people in Gaza being used as a human shield to Hamas.

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, stated on CNN this week that Israel has no intention to occupy Gaza. However, Israeli officials have cautioned that the operation in the region will be protracted. In addition, it is suspected that Hamas is currently holding more than 200 hostages, whose safety could be at risk if Israel decides to invade. Notably, the group released two American hostages, a mother and her daughter, on Friday.

US officials currently lack a clear understanding of Israel's intentions in Gaza and anticipate that completely eradicating Hamas will prove challenging. Israeli officials, at least publicly, have provided only a general outline of their plans, emphasizing the objective of eliminating Hamas and its infrastructure.

Israel Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff, Herzi Halevi, declared on Sunday that it is our duty to enter Gaza and target the areas where Hamas conducts its organizational, operational, planning, and launching activities. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Halevi emphasized the need to deliver severe blows to Hamas across all levels, including commanders and operatives, as well as dismantle their infrastructure. Our ultimate objective is to achieve victory. Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aimed to weaken Hamas through a ground invasion in 2014, it posed a significant challenge, resulting in no further attempts by Israel since then.

Concerns about further inflaming tensions

Furthermore, officials have expressed apprehension regarding a potential ground invasion exacerbating tensions in the area, particularly following a recent hospital explosion in Gaza that both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of orchestrating. While the US has determined that Israel was not accountable, they have yet to definitively identify the party responsible.

CNN reports that the hospital explosion in the Arab world has triggered widespread protests. According to US and Middle Eastern officials, if an Israeli ground incursion into Gaza occurs on a large scale and without discrimination, it could lead to more unrest. Over the past few days, US troops have already faced multiple attacks in Iraq and Syria, including drone and rocket strikes on coalition bases. Meanwhile, Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group in Lebanon, has issued threats of retaliation if Israeli forces enter Gaza.

"I believe we all acknowledge the significance of the spare in information warfare," commented an individual knowledgeable about US intelligence. "Whatever actions they undertake, they must be mindful and purposeful."

U.S. President Joe Biden receives a warm welcome from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Israel amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Tel Aviv on October 18, 2023.

The looming threat of a hospital explosion adds complexity to Biden's diplomatic mission to Israel. US officials are concerned that a brutal attack on Gaza may provoke the involvement of Hezbollah or Iran. Currently, intelligence suggests that neither Tehran nor Hezbollah are eager to directly intervene. However, if there are widespread visuals of Palestinians enduring Israeli aggression, the political stance of these entities may change.

According to a senior US official speaking to CNN, Biden's visit to Israel this week has the advantage of providing some time before a potential Israeli ground incursion. It had been widely understood prior to the trip that Israel would not escalate the situation in Gaza while Biden was present. The official further explained that the longer Israel delays such a military operation, the more beneficial it is as it allows for more strategic planning and a less emotional response to the events of October 7.

Jonathan Panikoff, a former regional specialist in senior intelligence analysis, commended Israel forces for their measured approach in delaying a ground operation following recent events. He emphasized that the President should be acknowledged for allowing this time to pass. However, Panikoff cautioned that conducting a ground operation in densely populated areas presents significant obstacles, particularly due to Hamas' integration among civilians. Urban warfare under these conditions poses a distinct and formidable challenge.

"I believe the objective of Bidens trip was not necessarily to prevent a complete invasion," he stated. "Rather, I believe the aim was to demonstrate unequivocal support and gain insight into Israel's strategy for post-invasion scenarios, particularly in terms of overseeing the governance of the Gaza Strip in the event that Israel successfully weakens Hamas." CNN's Alex Marquardt contributed to this report.