Amid the blasts of countless bombs, the rattle of gunfire shows Israelis are in Gaza – and will stay

Gaza was shrouded in thick fog on the morning after Israeli troops arrived, but the sun eventually dispersed it. However, the tranquility was short-lived as the air was thickened with the smoke from numerous bombs. In the lulls between the explosions, another noise could be heard: the sound of machine guns firing.

From a hillside in Sderot that was five kilometres away across the border, one could hear the occasional rattling noise originating from the town of Beit Hanoun up north. This served as evidence that Israeli soldiers who had entered Gaza on Friday night had remained there the following day and that the seizure of Gaza land had commenced.

It wasn't a complete invasion, not at this moment, however it was also not the quick attack that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) had carried out in the past few nights.

It is interesting to note that, after the unexpected attacks by Hamas on October 7, Israel is now making attempts to remain present in certain parts of Gaza, most notably in the northern region. This could be a strategy to locate and eliminate tunnels or possibly to search for hostages, according to Michael Horowitz, who serves as the intelligence chief at Le Beck International risk consultancy.

The level of aggression has increased and Yoav Gallant, the defence minister of Israel, stated over the weekend that it will only get worse.

"The assault was conducted both above and below the surface, targeting terrorists at all levels and in multiple locations," stated Gallant in a recorded message. "Our troops have received clear orders to continue this mission until further notice."

The "new order" aims to eliminate Hamas in what is being called Operation Swords of Iron. However, it also means that numerous innocent Palestinian citizens residing in Gaza will be affected and possibly harmed.

Looking from Sderot towards the eastern part of Beit Hanoun, it was clear that the area no longer resembled any type of living space for people. The residential buildings had been completely destroyed, with a particular emphasis on attacking Jabalia refugee camp located southwest of the town. The assault continued on towards Gaza City beyond it.

Big guns on wheels that move on their own, were shooting repeatedly from the fields in the southern area. Explosions similar to the sound of tanks firing could be heard from inside Beit Hanoun and every now and then, a loud sound of an airplane passing would follow, followed by a white smoke appearing on the far-off area.

The Israeli military knows they are heading into a dangerous situation. They are expecting landmines and explosives to be set up along their path by the opposing group, Hamas. Additionally, they are aware that Hamas soldiers will be waiting, equipped with Kornet anti-tank weapons. However, the Israel Defense Forces have decided to tackle this by completing a bombing campaign. They plan to destroy any traps in their way and turn narrow streets into wide roads through bombing.

As it provided directives for individuals residing in Beit Hanoun, a Palestinian territory, and other regions situated in northern Gaza to shift towards the southern side, the source claimed that whoever chooses to stay back is essentially volunteering to become a human defensive barrier for Hamas, regardless of whether they are elderly or unwell, or if the south is equally hazardous as the north until now.

The initial day of the ground attack did not clearly demonstrate Israel's strategy in accomplishing their goal of eliminating Hamas both in military and political ways. However, it did offer some hints.

Amos Yadlin, who used to lead Aman, the Israeli military's intelligence agency, shared that the incursion on Friday night was aimed at showing that Israel won't delay its military operations even as Hamas releases its 220-plus hostages slowly, at a pace of only two a week.

Yadlin stated that if you calculate the amount of time it would take to reach a deal, it would take two years, and Israel is not willing to wait that long. The purpose of this message is to inform Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, that the ground offensive will not be stopped and if they do not agree to a significant and meaningful agreement, they will face even more consequences.

According to Yadlin, the start of the ground incursion is only the initial phase of what could be months of a "low-intensity conflict." The military will be searching for Hamas in the underground tunnels where they are hiding.

According to Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence official, the recent incursion into enemy territory should not automatically be considered the start of a massive attack. Instead, Melamed suggests that this could be the first in a series of small-scale operations that will gradually intensify over time.

Melamed explained that the operation is not a massive attack from all sides by the entire army. Instead, it is a methodical approach that gradually weakens Hamas by targeting its core.

Yadlin mentioned that the effectiveness of the attack would rely upon the amount of time Israel had. If they were given a span of five weeks, Hamas would be considerably weakened but would still hold its ground in Gaza. Furthermore, Israeli strikes would be carried out frequently in the following years to prevent Hamas from regaining any military strength.

According to Yadlin, if the IDF was given a period of five months, they would be able to completely eliminate Hamas from Gaza.

According to him, Israel needed to take decisive action to ensure that there would be no repeat of the 7 October attack. One of the measures he suggested was the reconfiguration of the Middle East map.

He stated that returning to the 1967 borders would not be an option as they were proven to be indefensible. In order to bring back the kibbutzim and urban settlements of the western Negev, a buffer area is necessary. It is essential for our enemy to realize that any hostile actions will result in them losing territory.

The duration of the Israeli military's operation relies on the global situation and how much the US is willing to tolerate the loss of innocent lives. Recently, news came out that the American three-star Marine Corps general James Glynn, who was sent to work with Israel's commanders in the IDF war room, departed from the country.

Don't be mistaken - the responsibility for everything happening in Gaza belongs solely to Israel," stated Marine commandant Gen Eric Smith when he announced the departure. "[Glynn] has returned and shared his knowledge, but it's up to others to decide whether or not to use it."

The United States advised Israel to show restraint and refrain from launching a ground offensive. However, according to Smith's comments, it seems that Israel did not follow this advice. As a result, the responsibility for what happens next cannot be attributed to Washington.

Possibly, it was already beyond remedy when the Israeli soldiers stepped into Beit Hanoun.