With each day that passes, the fury begets more fury. But while intense air strikes on Gaza and a chokehold blockade from Israel continue, while missile attacks from Gaza and Lebanon also continue, there is still no ground offensive. It is reportedly on hold, at Washington's request.
There are the military preparations to consider, but also politics. The first key factor is the fate of the hostages. What 85-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz told reporters hours after her release on Tuesday holds both military and political significance.
We ask about her words and how Israel handles the more than 200 others held by militant groups in the Gaza Strip, a first in many flare-ups with Hamas.
Then there are the open doubts over whether Israel under this leadership has thought through what an invasion of Gaza might mean.
Reports suggest the United States, whose leader has owned up to the mistakes made in Iraq and Afghanistan, wants to know – beyond revenge – whether Israel has a long-term plan. More broadly, what's the alternative to Hamas and its ideology?
Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Rebecca Gnignati and Louise Guibert
