The Ground Operation Dilemma: Trust Erosion, Intelligence Gaps, and Regional Risks for Israel

With Israel announcing the postponement of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip, the crisis of trust deepened among political and security officials and the Israeli public. 

The contradictions in the justifications for delaying the attack did not prevent some Israelis from considering that the United States has the upper hand in the matter. 

For them, the US not only controls the course of operations against the Strip but also its timetable. Two main factors drive this belief:

1-   Ensuring a new deal to release some hostages, including Americans, held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

2-   Safeguarding Washington's interests in the region.

Simultaneously, discussions within Israel escalated regarding the insufficient information possessed by Israeli intelligence about the location of Hamas leaders inside the Strip and its capabilities there. This exacerbates the danger of the ground operation.

This concern prompted Benjamin Netanyahu to meet with former military and security officials, notably Isaac Brick, who highlighted the severity of the battle against the Strip and its consequences.

Retired General Isaac Brick warned of the operation, and his stance was supported by security, military, and political figures who were apprehensive that its execution would be a reckless step. 

It could drag Israel and the United States into a regional war on multiple fronts against Iran and its allies, from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq.

Facing all these fronts, can Israel withstand the challenges first? Secondly, could it lose the entire diplomatic and political track it has recorded, whether in terms of signing peace agreements or attempting normalization with Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia? This is particularly significant as the far-right has sought, since its partnership in the government, to eliminate this track.

Between military, diplomatic, and regional reasons, the issue of hostages held by Hamas remains an obstacle to the ground operation. 

Their families protest in the streets, bringing back the rift that Israel has witnessed since the formation of the Netanyahu government until October 7th.