I would have to imagine Egypt is lobbying quite hard against a ground incursion. I can't imagine public opinion won't turn against the blockade if people can't leave but letting them leave is a pretty huge risk for Egypt. And given levels of trust, it's not exactly like they can flee for Israel.
Hopefully that would preclude any sort of major operation and make them think about the situation they've let develop. — Count Timothy von Icarus
US to send aircraft carrier to Mediterranean to support Israel. Who do they think they are fighting, China? — Manuel
Well, that's the issue. From a military perspective alone, the initial stages of this attack were very successful for Hamas. But if this is all they have that is, if they already played all the cards they have, then the only thing they have to negotiate or pressure anything are the hostages. I heard the BBC claim they have around 30 of them. — Manuel
Presumably it's a message to Israel's other enemies to not be getting ideas. — Echarmion
I doubt the latter, there doesn't seem to be much of a realistic chance to defeat Israel even in an all out effort, and the US has already send a carrier as noted above.
Maybe the Hamas hopes to fatally weaken the IDF in Gaza. It makes at least theoretical sense, but it seems very unlikely to work out.
Of course it could be a sort of 3D chess where Israel occupies Gaza and all the long term costs - materially and politically - are meant to cripple it. But that seems a bit fanciful. — Echarmion
Presumably it's a message to Israel's other enemies to not be getting ideas.
have any of Israel's neighbors ever offered peace or reversed their desire to annihilate the Israeli state and the people in it? — tim wood
Yes, plenty of times actually, there's lots of examples here, much of it covered in The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World by Avi Shlaim. — Manuel
Hezbollah will fire some rockets, but Hezbollah also governs and has domestic goals and seems a lot less likely to jeopardize those for adventurism, especially since the memory of the civil war and occupation has faded. — Count Timothy von Icarus
I doubt Hamas believes it can defeat the IDF. It is more a point of principle, of not being allowed to be insulted by the government and of telling other Arab countries outside Iran that they still exist.
I think they might intervene, if Iran intervenes. Or who knows, make a "pre-emptive" attack on Iran or Hezbollah. Of course it's a way to show support to Israel, which is the most likeliest reason: put a carrier close to Israel, send them more weapons.US to send aircraft carrier to Mediterranean to support Israel. Who do they think they are fighting, China? This is the world's largest prison. It would be comical if it were not absolutely tragic and disgusting. — Manuel
ISIS is defeated but Sunni jihadism is alive and well and the attitude from them is still that Hez and Iran represent heretics who need to be cleansed from the Earth. — Count Timothy von Icarus
My belief is that the Israelis want peace and their enemies do not. — tim wood
It would turn into an absolute bloodbath that would probably haunt them for the rest of their existence. — Tzeentch
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