The goal of the offensive is, according to Israel, to defeat the terrorist-stamped Hamas, conquer Gaza, and move the population southward.
It appears as if Israel wants to create a situation of such hopelessness that the Gazans are willing to leave, says Anders Persson, lecturer in political science with a focus on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The big question is whether one does this to pressure Hamas into concessions and a negotiated solution about hostages in Gaza. There are some indications that this is Israel's objective. If that doesn't work, are they then prepared to go the whole way and take over all of Gaza, occupy and drive out large parts of the population? We don't know the answer to that.
If a negotiated solution is absent, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be hard-pressed by his voters and the far-right's supporting parties will move forward, according to Persson.
The Trump Factor
The fact that the offensive begins now is likely due to Israel not wanting to sabotage the USA's President Donald Trump's trip to the Middle East, which has recently ended. Trump has so far ducked questions about how he views the offensive, but Anders Persson sees it as unthinkable that Israel would act in defiance of his will.
One can imagine different shades of gray, such as Trump not taking a clear stance, which appears to be the case here.
Trump stated that many Gazans are starving and that he wants to see a quick end to the "brutal war".
In light of those statements, I find it difficult to see that he would be for this. On the other hand, there were reports yesterday that the USA wants to move up to a million Gazans to Libya. That is, on the contrary, a sign that they support Israel's war plans.
"Rhetorical Condemnations"
Criticism of Israel is increasing from the outside world. Several EU countries, including Sweden, have opened up to reviewing the association agreement with the country, but according to Anders Persson, there is still an "extreme reluctance" to impose hard sanctions.
That has to do with the Holocaust and the relationship to Israel, but also that the European right, which is against tough measures against Israel, is strong in many countries.
Beyond rhetorical condemnations, many countries are reluctant to take hard sanctions against Israel.
Even the powerful Gulf states that Donald Trump recently visited are critical – but good relations with the USA seem to weigh heavier, according to the political scientist.
Beyond rhetorical condemnations, many countries are unwilling to take hard sanctions against Israel.
