More than a week after the deadliest attack inside Israel in 50 years, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are preparing for their largest and most difficult military operation since the 1982 war in Lebanon.
Approximately 360,000 reservists have been called up, with most of the personnel being stationed near Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip. A restricted military zone has been declared in the area. On Friday, the Israeli military warned the more than 1 million Palestinian civilians living in the northern third of Gaza to evacuate farther south. Some Israeli raids have occurred in Gaza already. Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes are pummeling hundreds of targets every night.
Senior Israeli officials are in no mood for talking. “We will topple Hamas rule in Gaza,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said. “We will eliminate its military capability. We will make sure this threat doesn’t exist on our border.” The probability of a large-scale ground campaign against Hamas is becoming more likely as the days go by.
One can only sympathize with Israel’s desire to exact a high price for Hamas’ devastating attacks on Israeli civilians. The death toll in that day of carnage has risen to 1,300, with many children among them. The whole state of Israel is distraught. There is unbelievable pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to respond with the utmost severity given the depravity of the assaults on the innocent.
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