Israeli military reconsiders a ground offensive on Gaza

Sunday December 23, 2007 18:34 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC&Agencies

An Israeli studies center voiced assessment today that the Israeli military wont launch an all-out ground offensive on the Gaza Strip, given likely causalities among the Israeli military.

illustration photo/ Maan News Agency

Strategic Issues website, which published the assessment, revealed that in light of military assessment by senior army chiefs, a ground offensive on Gaza is unlikely, due to possible large death toll once such an offensive is carried out.

According to secret polls, the Israeli army has conducted recently, the Israeli public is opposed to 'costly' offensive on the coastal region.

The studies center estimated that at least 100 Israeli soldiers are likely to be killed, in case the army invades Gaza massively.

During a reportedly high-ranking meeting, army chiefs scaled possibility of causalities that are higher than the total of casualties, Israel has lost throughout the past seven years of conflict.

As for the continued Palestinian homemade shells fire, from Gaza onto nearby Israeli towns, the army officials confirmed that the Israeli army would be able to stop such shells fire.

Israeli military has recently warned of an 'imminent' Israeli army large-scale ground offensive on the Gaza Strip, in a ' bid ' to stop homemade shells fire, Palestinian armed factions continue to launch onto nearby Israeli territories.

In September, Israel declared Gaza a ' hostile' entity and in October, it imposed a series of 'apparently' punitive measures against the 1.4-million population, including fuel supplies cut.

Several human rights groups worldwide have warned of 'grave' consequences of such actions, as United Nations Secretary General, Ban-Ki Moon, had urged Israel to reconsider all of its actions against the most densely-populated region in the world.

gaza strip | israeli attacks | news report rami at imemc dot org