Debate rages over whether Israel is being foolish to delay invasion of Gaza

Israel has reportedly agreed to consider delaying its ground invasion of Gaza for a few days to allow hostage talks to continue, prompting a raging debate in the country and abroad over the move.

The Biden administration is said to be at the forefront of a cautious approach, worried that Israel doesn’t have an attainable military goal — to eradicate the terror group Hamas — partly because of a lack of readiness to complete the monumental task.

“Hamas has had 15 years to prepare a dense ‘defense in depth’ that integrates subterranean, ground-level and aboveground fortifications, communication tunnels, emplacements and fighting positions,’’ Michael Knights, a fellow with The Washington Institute, noted in a recent analysis.

The terror group has laid the groundwork  for “potential minefields, improvised explosive devices, explosively formed penetrator anti-armor mines and buildings rigged as explosive booby traps’’ — all of which carry the potential for massive Israeli casualties.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd  Austin has had numerous calls with Israel’s hawkish minister of defense, Yoav Gallant, in which he expounded upon the problems American forces faced during their own urban combat in the Middle East over the past two decades.

“The first thing that everyone should know, and I think everyone does know, is that urban combat is extremely difficult,” Austin said on ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday.

President Biden echoed Austin’s call to consider delaying the invasion during his trip to Tel Aviv last week, urging Israel to avoid the same mistakes the US made in the impassioned aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

“I caution that, while you feel that rage, don’t be consumed by it. After 9/11, we were enraged in the United States. While we sought justice and got justice, we also made mistakes,” Biden told reporters.

During an address in the country, Biden called on Israel to make “an honest assessment about whether the path you’re on will achieve those objectives.”

But a senior Israeli security told the Guardian that the current situation is different from the situation the US was in.

“It’s not Fallujah, or Baghdad or Basra, it’s a kibbutz 300 meters from Khan Younis or from Gaza City,” the source said, referring to the proximity of Israeli forces to its targeted territory.

“Our villages are spitting distance from the Palestinians who invaded them last Saturday,” the source said — referring to the Oct. 7 slaughter of an estimated 1,400 Israelis during a sneak Hamas attack.

Israel Defense Forces  have insisted they’re ready to fight, announcing they’d given the government the “green light” to issue marching orders last week as legions of tanks were seen stationed along the border of the Gaza Strip.times

IDF officials Tuesday warned the government that their troops couldn’t be kept on hold indefinitely if they wanted to remain battle-ready, according to the Times of Israel.

Former Deputy National Security Adviser to Israel Chuck Freilich also pointed out that waiting on an attack  opens Israel up to the risk of seeing public opinion turn against it as its rocket attacks against Gaza continue to hurt civilians in the city.

“Clearly, as time goes, the legitimatization of an Israeli attack diminishes,” Freilich told ABC News. “As more ugly pictures [of civilians] come out of Gaza, it hurts Israel.”

During a visit to IDF troops on Monday, Gallant promised them, “We are preparing thoroughly. It will be a lethal attack.

“Do your job, get ready, we will deploy you,” he said.