As the specter of a ground incursion looms over the Gaza strip, questions remain of what exactly Israel’s plan is for the region.
This is not the first time that a ground incursion has been considered. In recent years, the Israeli government has used it as part of its strategy to put pressure on Hamas and other militant Gaza groups and to quell Palestinian protests along the Gaza border. Its plan in these instances has generally been the same: a limited phased incursion until enough objectives have been reached and the Israeli military can withdraw.
This approach has failed to break the cycle of violence between Gaza and Israel in the past, however, and now, with the specter of a ground incursion once more in the air, Israelis are apprehensive and Palestinians on edge.
The details of Israel’s larger strategic plan for Gaza, however, remain vague. It is unclear what objectives the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) seeks to achieve and, as such, it is hard to know how long a ground incursion could last if it goes forward.
For the Israeli government, a ground incursion is a sign of last resort. While it will not rule out taking this step, it also wants to avoid it if at all possible. A ground incursion is likely to see much violence, and civilian casualties are a likelihood. As such, Israel is more likely to use negotiations and diplomatic pressure with Hamas as its primary tools in trying to quell the conflict in Gaza.
For the Palestinian groups in Gaza, the Israeli government’s plan for the area is as much a mystery as their own intentions. In addition to whatever military objectives Israel has in mind, the Palestinian Authority also doubts Israel’s commitment to a long-term ceasefire or a path to a political solution to the situation in Gaza.
Time will tell how Israel’s strategy for Gaza will unfold and what the IDF’s plan is. In the meantime, there is much that can be done to prevent a ground incursion and ensure a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and both sides must remain committed to pursuing these options first and foremost.
