Why Israel's Ground Offensive in Gaza is Still On Hold

Stretching across the horizon near Israel's border with Gaza are rows of tanks, self-propelled artillery, armored vehicles, and army bulldozers. All pointing towards the enclave, they stand ready for action.

However, despite this preparation, they have remained immobile for days.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) swiftly deployed a significant number of troops and military equipment along the border following the deadliest terror attack in Israeli history on October 7. In addition to their regular forces, the IDF mobilized 300,000 reservists who promptly reported to their bases.

Despite the anticipation of an imminent ground invasion and the extensive preparations, the IDF has chosen not to send ground troops thus far. Instead, they have concentrated on conducting a substantial aerial bombardment.

Israel's inaction has raised concerns about its strategy and the ultimate goal it has planned for Gaza. The fate of over 200 hostages currently held by Hamas in Gaza is a major concern, as their safety could be in jeopardy if Israel decides to invade.

The hostages consist of Israeli civilians and soldiers, as well as foreign nationals, including children as young as 9 months old. Among them, there are numerous hostages with foreign passports from 25 countries, which include Mexico, Brazil, the United States, Germany, and Thailand, as stated by the Israeli government. This adds another layer of complexity for Israel as it must take into account the interests of its allies.

Israeli tanks are seen positioned near the border with Gaza, in southern Israel, on October 22.

Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters

Yocheved Lifshitz speaks to the reporters outside Ichilov Hospital, in Tel Aviv, in Israel, after she was released by Hamas, on October 24.

Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images

Four individuals being held captive, specifically two Israeli women and two American women, have recently been set free, instilling optimism that additional releases may occur.

Over the past few days, US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and French President Emmanuel Macron journeyed to Israel. They all emphasized the rights of Israel to protect itself and extended their support. However, each leader also advocated for prudence, urging additional time for negotiations.

Israel's post-invasion plans remain ambiguous, prompting calls for more time. CNN has reported that the US and its allies have been urging Israel to be transparent and strategic in stating its objectives, cautioning against prolonging the occupation and emphasizing the importance of minimizing civilian casualties.

The IDF claims to be targeting Hamas and its infrastructure, but the number of civilian casualties resulting from the strikes has been staggering. According to health authorities in the Hamas-controlled enclave, over 5,790 individuals, including 2,000 children, have been killed thus far. It is worth noting that President Biden has expressed skepticism towards these figures. Additionally, the United Nations reports that at least 35 UN staffers in Gaza have lost their lives, with the majority attributing their deaths to Israeli airstrikes.

The bloodshed has caused significant anger and condemnation throughout the Arab world, raising concerns that if the campaign persists, the Israel-Hamas war could escalate into a broader regional conflict.

The Israeli government likely takes this fear into account while assessing the advantages and disadvantages of a potential extensive ground offensive after its ongoing aerial campaign.

Although the IDF has primarily focused on the regions surrounding the Gaza Strip, it has also confronted Hezbollah along its border with Lebanon. If Israel fully commits to a ground operation in Gaza, the influential Iran-backed Islamist group could perceive a chance to intervene and launch an attack from the northern direction.

Israel and its allies have cautioned Hezbollah against involvement. However, Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, held meetings with top officials from Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad on Wednesday, as confirmed by a statement released by Hezbollah. In addition, numerous nations and international aid organizations, such as the United Nations, have been urging Israel to temporarily halt activities and facilitate the entry of more aid into the enclave.

Gaza has been under a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt for several years. However, following the Hamas attack, Israel further intensified the blockade by cutting off essential supplies such as electricity, food, water, and fuel. Although Israel claims to have restored the water supply on October 15, Gaza water authorities are unable to verify this due to the lack of electricity needed to operate the pumping station. As a result, the United Nations reports that civilians in Gaza still do not have access to clean water and are resorting to drinking salty well water, which poses immediate health risks, according to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

UN Secretary General António Guterres has repeatedly urged for a humanitarian ceasefire and expressed to the UN Security Council on Tuesday that there are clear violations of international humanitarian law taking place in Gaza. His statements, which acknowledged that the Hamas attacks did not occur in isolation, have sparked calls for Guterres' resignation from Israeli diplomats.

Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, asserted that Hamas' aggressive intrusion in Israel coincided with the enduring plight of Palestinian civilians who have been oppressed for years under the suffocating occupation enforced by Israeli forces.

Australia, a steadfast ally of Israel, has joined the call for a cessation of hostilities. Additionally, a senior diplomat from the European Union revealed to CNN on Wednesday that the EU may incline towards implementing a "brief humanitarian break" in Gaza during this week's exceptional European Council meeting.

The IDF is prepared for action, but the ultimate decision lies with the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu has been grappling with the most severe crisis of his political career, predating the Hamas attack. His proposals for a judicial overhaul have ignited months of extensive demonstrations and calls for him to step down.

Hamas' attack on October 7 caught the government, IDF, and Israeli intelligence community off guard, leading to significant frustration among the nation. Israeli media polls indicate a decline in Netanyahu's approval ratings following the incident. In an effort to alleviate some of this anger, Netanyahu formed an emergency war cabinet with opposition leaders. However, there have already been speculations in Israeli media about potential divisions within the cabinet.

Netanyahu has consistently shown a reluctance to take significant risks when making major decisions, particularly in relation to a full-scale invasion of Gaza due to the enormous political repercussions both domestically and internationally. The heinousness of the Hamas attack has generated a substantial surge of support from Israel's allies.

However, this backing could potentially diminish if the already appalling number of civilian casualties in Gaza continues to rise.

In the meantime, additional members of the unity government and the IDF are staunchly advocating for the complete eradication of Hamas.

To dispel any notions of discord, Netanyahu released a statement on Monday affirming that he fully supports his defense minister and the armed forces.

"We support one another and we support the IDF - our soldiers and commanders," he affirmed, emphasizing, "Unanimously, we make the decisions here and in the War Cabinet."

However, presently, no decision has been made. On Wednesday evening, Netanyahu spoke to the nation, reiterating that the government is currently "making preparations for a ground incursion."

"I won't provide specific information regarding the timing, manner, quantity, or the comprehensive factors we are considering," he stated.

Meanwhile, along the Gaza border, the soldiers remain prepared. It is an anxious anticipation, with drones hovering above and the continuous echoes of explosions reverberating through the expansive area.

CNNs Alex Marquardt, Helen Regan, Rob Picheta, James Frater, Alex Hardie, Chris Liakos and Akanksha Sharma contributed to this report.