Israel Plans Large-Scale Ground Operation

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Israeli authorities are planning a large-scale ground operation in the Gaza Strip.

The publication indicates that the leadership of the Jewish state believes that capturing and maintaining a significant portion of the Palestinian enclave will allow for a definitive victory over the radical Hamas movement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his close associates believe that with the support of the new American administration for offensive operations and the weakening of the Shiite Hezbollah organization in Lebanon, the Israeli army has sufficient capabilities to carry out such military operations.

At the same time, for a final victory over Hamas, Israel must completely destroy the underground tunnel system and other infrastructural objects of the movement, which may take several months or even years.