In the hours and days after the 7 October attacks on Israel, the sense coming from the Israeli military and government was of an imminent ground invasion to avenge the massacre of their people.

Whether the decision-makers have taken a collective pause for breath, or whether international pressure has forced them to slow down, the much-promised ground invasion hasn’t yet happened.

Instead, over recent successive nights we’ve seen limited incursions, based on specific targets, with Israeli soldiers exiting Gaza before the sun rises.

It’s an effective strategy and could run for a number of days longer.

Israel-Gaza latest: Israel to expand ground operations in Gaza tonight; civilians warned to move south

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

By changing the point of entry and coming in at different angles, including by sea, Israel is keeping Hamas guessing.

Each time they go into the Gaza Strip, they destroy infrastructure, map out routes, assess the environment and gather vital intelligence.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Read more:
Israel accuses Hamas of launching attacks from inside Gaza hospitals
US launches retaliatory strikes on Iran-linked munition storage sites in Syria

Bit by bit, the IDF is pushing into Gaza – don’t be surprised if there is no “big moment” of invasion, but rather a gradual and deliberate rise in the tempo of operations.

The slower build-up to a larger ground invasion will not just have taken the wider watching world by surprise, but Hamas too.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

That will start to impact morale, as many fighters will be hiding below ground, living off frayed nerves and little else as the Israeli air force flattens the ground above.

At some point, Israeli forces will need to go street by street, house by house.

Then, the danger of ambush, booby traps and snipers will increase significantly, but these earlier incursions are designed to limit that risk, insofar as possible.

Related posts:

Brazil’s three military chiefs all quit after Bolsonaro cabinet reshuffle ‘The one who causes fear’ – Scientists discover new dinosaur in Argentina British woman killed in Pakistan ‘after refusing to marry a man’ Trump suspended from Facebook for two years after ‘praising people at US Capitol riot’ Largest outbreak of ‘sea snot’ on record hits Turkish coast Family launch desperate appeal for British woman missing in Japan Western allies agree to cut select Russian banks from global financial messaging system SWIFT Vladimir Putin orders military command to put nuclear deterrence forces on high alert Stars of showbiz, sport and 50,000 fans to say goodbye to cricket legend Shane Warne Greta Thunberg twice detained by police at anti-wind farm protest ‘My spiritual girlfriend’: Mummy discovered in delivery driver’s bag Everything we know so far after dozens killed in Greece train crash