Israel's Ground Operation in Gaza Will Be Unprecedented in Its Brutality: Reuters

Israel promises to destroy Hamas with a brutal assault on the Gaza Strip, according to Reuters. The operation, dubbed “Iron Swords,” will be unparalleled in its brutality, as revealed by eight regional and Western officials.

Since October 7, Israel has mobilized 360,000 reservists and has been continually bombing the Gaza Strip. According to sources, Israel's strategy is to demolish Gaza's infrastructure, even at the cost of significant civilian casualties. However, Israeli officials have stated that they have no clear understanding of what the consequences will be.

Some aides to U.S. President Joe Biden are concerned that Israel still needs to formulate an exit strategy, sources in Washington have reported. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's visits to Israel last week emphasized the importance of a post-war plan for Gaza.

Arab officials are worried that Israel lacks a clear plan regarding the future of the enclave, where 2.3 million people reside. Although the Israeli incursion has not yet begun, authorities in Gaza claim that airstrikes have already resulted in the deaths of 3,500 Palestinians, one-third of whom are children.

During his visit to Israel on Wednesday, Biden told Israelis that justice must prevail over Hamas, yet he cautioned that after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. had made mistakes.