Israeli troops could be ordered to spend 18 months in the Gaza Strip as Tel Aviv’s forces gear up for an offensive in the Hamas-controled enclave.
A Hamas officer told the New York Times that the terror group was waiting for Israeli troops to enter Gaza so they could ambush them using a vast tunnel network.
Senior Israeli officials told the paper that the anticipated ground invasion of Gaza had been delayed due to the weather preventing air cover needed to move in the troops.
Some of the political and military leadership in Israel are urging a door-to-door operation in Gaza which could take as long as 18 months, according to the report.
The delay has given Palestinians living in Gaza more time to flee the area after Israel issued a warning urging around 1.1 million people to head south.
Holding the operation has also likely given Hamas more time to prepare for the Israeli invasion.
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said: “It’s really important that people in Gaza know we’ve been very, very generous with the time. We have given ample warning, more than 25 hours.”
Speaking to CNN, he added: “I cannot stress more than enough to say now is the time for Gazans to leave.
“Take your belongings, go south. Preserve your life, and do not fall into the trap that Hamas is setting up for you.”
However, in an update this morning, Conricus said that Hamas was preventing people in Gaza from traveling south. The IDF provided photos purporting to show Hamas vehicles blocking the road as evidence.
In addition, the borders to Gaza are shut – Israel won’t allow anyone in or out and the Rafah crossing to Egypt is also shut.
The US is urging Egypt to allow its citizens out through the crossing but it’s unclear whether Hamas would allow civilians to leave even if the crossing was open.
As Israel gears up for what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said will be a “long war”, Tel Aviv has struck thousands of what it says are Hamas targets in Gaza.
Palestinian authorities said the death toll in Gaza has risen to at least 2,383. At least 1,300 Israelis were killed in a massive terrorist attack launched by Hamas on October 7.
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