Across the 51-kilometer border that separates Israel from Gaza, thousands of men and women prepare for what they view as a sacred duty to defend their homeland. Some have flown from continents away to be here. Others come from different parts of the Jewish state. They arrived days ago, yet their missions remain on standby. Ground operations near the Gaza Strip seem imminent. It is striking how the Israeli government frames its next moves. Just fifteen days after Hamas unleashed a brutal assault that took nearly 1,400 Israeli lives, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to have paused the ticking clock on major action. The plan is described as unfolding in three phases.
“Nothing has been postponed,” insists Brigadier General Emir Avivi, founder of the Israel Security and Defense Forum, which represents 16,000 Army reservists (IDSF). He echoes a refrain military officials have repeated for two weeks: “the ground offensive is coming.” In an interview with EL PERIÓDICO, he states plainly, “When we decide, it will happen. We will conquer Gaza. We will destroy Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and we will dismantle their terrorist infrastructure.” He adds with conviction, “There is no alternative to a ground operation.”
Yet many observers note that the term ‘soon’ has stretched into weeks after the Islamist Palestinian militias’ assault. Still, little doubt remains that Israel’s army plans to enter Gaza by land. A record number of reservists have been mobilized since the conflict began, with about 360,000 deployed along the north and south borders to deter Hezbollah. In recent days, authorities evacuated border towns and the surrounding settlement zones, declaring them military areas and restricting access to soldiers and authorized personnel.
Actions on the ground
Beyond the heated rhetoric of Netanyahu and Defense Minister Joav Brave, tangible steps are underway. Danny Orbach, a military historian at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, explains that several intertwined reasons have kept a ground operation from starting. “First, there is concern among the ranks that troops are not fully prepared,” he notes. Hamas has spent years underground building tunnels, traps, and ambush points. “Rushing in with a desire for revenge could trap Israel in a deadly miscalculation,” he warns. In short, invading without adequate preparation would invite serious consequences.
Consequently, even as troops hold their fire at the border for now, movements along the frontier remain multi-directional. There is ongoing training, repairs to tanks and vehicles, and ongoing planning for future phases. Defense officials have outlined that the war would unfold in three stages. Another factor, Orbach adds, is the need for broad international backing. Before any cross-border action, Israel has sought and secured support from European partners and the United States, and Netanyahu himself is seen as weighing decisions carefully. The Harvard-educated analyst also suggests another factor: Netanyahu’s cautious leadership style, which often leans toward delaying decisions until conditions are clearer.
“We have no choice”
Experts agree that Israel faces a strategic necessity to push into Gaza. Avivi quips that, practically speaking, there is no way to dismantle Hamas other than entering the Strip. He notes that although the entry may be swift, it will require a lengthy effort to clear the area of terrorist infrastructure. The Israel Security and Defense Forum founder emphasizes two essential conditions: securing the Egyptian border to prevent arms smuggling into Gaza and restoring freedom of movement as in the Judea and Samaria region. Without these, he argues, eliminating Hamas cannot be guaranteed.
The question of Gaza’s occupation is framed as a survival issue for Israeli soldiers and civilians alike. Orbach emphasizes that Israel cannot exist without disabling Hamas and Hezbollah and notes the surrounding ring of Iranian influence through allies. Avivi concurs, describing the army as highly motivated, with the public expressing a strong will to defend the country. The visible determination on the border is matched by the faces of hundreds of young recruits waiting for decisive orders.
Gaza’s suffering
At the gates of Kibbutz Be’eri, near the Gaza frontier, dozens of tanks are being prepared as the path forward unfolds. A flow of new soldiers joins the effort, with leadership stating that the nation has rallied in large numbers after the October 7 atrocity. Marcus Sheff, observing the scene, asserts that the objective is the destruction of Hamas and its infrastructure, not the civilian population of Gaza. He notes that more than 4,000 Palestinians have died in the ongoing bombardment.
Sheff’s remarks underscore the tension between military objectives and the humanitarian cost. The army has to be ready for urban warfare as the conflict expands into Gaza’s built environment. Behind a barrier, tanks, trucks, excavators, and other military assets roll forward, carrying troops toward the eastern edge of the Strip. The air is heavy with smoke as the conflict intensifies, and hundreds of families along the border watch the unfolding events with a mix of resolve and concern. The scene captures a nation poised to act, with soldiers and civilians alike bracing for the challenges ahead.
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