Egypt’s strategic military expert General Safwat El-Zayat said the Israeli army’s decision to initiate the ground operation is clear evidence of its failure to suppress the Palestinian resistance through the aerial operation waged against the enclave for nearly two weeks.
In an interview with Al-Jazeera Mubasher Mirs, El-Zayat pointed out that the Israeli army is trying to create a safe area on the outskirts of Gaza because it is afraid of the anti-tank missiles system possessed by the Palestinian resistance.
He noted that if Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was confident of the capabilities of his army, he would have ordered the ground incursion on day one, but he was forced to order it now because he feels that he has fallen into a deep crisis.
El-Zayat stressed that the Palestinian resistance leaders appeared confident while the Israeli leaders appeared confused, noting that the Palestinian resistance did not stop its rocket fire, but has identified and hit specific targets within the Israeli territories.
He said launching the ground operation 11 days after the aerial aggression on Gaza is a mistake because the Palestinian resistance realised that it is a possible scenario and prepared for it.