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As the prospect of a ground assault on Gaza looms, defence and security editor Dan Sabbagh has taken a look at the risks, uncertainty and potential humanitarian consequences of such an operation.
“Hamas has long been ready for an Israeli incursion, digging a sophisticated network of tunnels across Gaza intended to allow its forces to survive aerial bombardment,” he writes. “Some tunnels previously discovered by Israel because they went under the border fence are as deep as 70 metres.
“The heavily urbanised terrain – the Gaza Strip is one of the world’s most densely populated areas – will also favour the defenders as they try to fight back. Each remaining building will have to be fought over, and heavy mining could further impede the Israelis if Hamas copies the technique used by Russia to blunt Ukraine’s counteroffensive.”
Sabbagh adds: “The near certain reality is that a ground invasion will be bloody, and it is possible international political support for Israel, which is high after Hamas’s brutal attack a week ago killed 1,300 Israeli civilians, will dip as more Palestinian civilians are killed or remain trapped without shelter, food or electricity.”
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