Israel’s early morning strikes against Gaza did not escalate into a ground invasion, hinting that the country is evaluating Hamas’s response before possibly returning to full-scale conflict, according to analyst insights on Tuesday.

The strikes, responsible for over 250 fatalities as per health officials, came after weeks of unsuccessful negotiations regarding a truce extension with Hamas. Talks failed when Israel demanded Hamas release a substantial number of hostages, a condition Hamas was unwilling to meet without guarantees of retaining power in Gaza post-war.

Tuesday’s strikes were interpreted by analysts as a strategic push for Hamas to concede during negotiations, a maneuver fraught with risks that might still ignite a full-flown conflict.

Through targeted missile strikes instead of ground forays, Israel is aiming “to coerce Hamas into greater flexibility,” stated Michael Milstein, an analyst of Palestinian affairs and former high-ranking officer in Israeli military intelligence.

“In my view, it’s unlikely Hamas will relinquish its firm stances,” Mr. Milstein said, expressing concern that within days, the situation could devolve into a protracted warfare characterized by ongoing airstrikes and a lack of concession from Hamas.

Six hours after the initial bombardment, Hamas had not retaliated, either due to diminished military capabilities from earlier phases of the conflict or a deliberate attempt to prevent a sterner Israeli response.

Despite this, Hamas showed no public inclination to back down in the negotiations. In an official statement, Hamas denounced the strikes, asserting that Israel had jeopardized the remaining hostages’ fate and should be held accountable for violating and overthrowing the agreement.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich—a representative of the far-right—expressed that Israel’s objective is “to obliterate Hamas,” hoping the recent attacks might escalate into a significantly different operation from previous actions.

However, in its official announcement regarding the renewal of intense military operations, the Israeli government proceeded with caution. The statement omitted details on the operation’s duration or whether it would involve the type of ground invasion necessary to dislodge Hamas from power. By mid-morning, the Israeli military directed Palestinian civilians to vacate two areas near the Israel-Gaza border but stopped short of confirming troop and tank deployments in those areas.

Rawan Sheikh Ahmad contributed to this report.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-hamas-war.html