Israel has admitted that it may “try something different” to a ground invasion of Gaza ahead of an expected visit from US President Joe Biden on Wednesday.
Western leaders, including Mr Biden, have added caveats of late to their comments that Israel has the “right to defend herself”, adding that the Israeli forces must also show “restraint” during their offensive to avoid killing Palestinian civilians.
In previous briefings senior Israeli military officials have said clearly that the forces were amassing for “the option of a ground operation” and even that they “want to do that”.
But speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Israeli military spokesperson Lt Col Richard Hecht, said that the military was still “preparing for the next stages of the war” but that a full ground incursion was no longer certain.
More than 2,800 Palestinians have already been killed by Israeli airstrikes and the subsequent chaos caused by the bombardment of the Strip. A further 9,700 have been wounded.
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