The Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, published an article whose writer believes that the Israeli military operation in Gaza must be ended as soon as possible before the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) enters the battle, which will cause more harm to the Israelis.
And the Israeli journalist Amos Harel said - in his article in the newspaper - that it is time to end the military operation as soon as possible if Israel is able to do so, questioning Israel's ability to achieve any other military gains in the operation given that prominent figures in the Islamic Jihad movement are now acting cautiously.
He pointed out that the losses incurred by the Israelis are still limited, as the Israeli Iron Dome was able to intercept 95% of the rockets that rained down on Israeli cities and towns, and said, "As long as Hamas is out of the battle, the damage (which Israel sustains) will be limited, Therefore, it is better to stop," the military operation.
The Israeli writer expects that other rounds of bombing by Islamic Jihad rockets, which target southern and possibly central Israel as well, will result in casualties.
He believes that - despite this - the damage that Islamic Jihad alone can inflict on Israel remains limited, given that it is a small organization and its weapons are relatively limited compared to Hamas.
Based on the foregoing, the writer believes that the main factor that will determine the duration and fierceness of the battle is whether Hamas will participate in the fighting.
The writer points out that Israeli defense officials are likely not to allow the Hamas high command in the Gaza Strip to be drawn into the fighting, as the time is not right for the movement.
However, the decision to participate will depend on the number of civilian casualties who fall as a result of the Israeli bombing, as many casualties will increase pressure on Hamas to move.
He believes that the caution against dragging Hamas into the battle is the reason why senior figures in the Israeli army have repeatedly insisted that the army is doing its best to minimize civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.
However, it seems that a fine line separates us from reaching the military pressure that would push Hamas to respond harshly to the Israeli operation in Gaza, according to the article.
The writer pointed out that Jerusalem may become one of the factors of escalation, in light of what he described as "a number of ultra-Orthodox Jews' visit" to Al-Aqsa Mosque on the occasion of the anniversary of the so-called "destruction of the Temple."
And the Israeli police announced that they would not prevent these incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The writer concludes that the incursions of the ultra-Orthodox into the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which he describes as "visits" may cause a violent Palestinian response, and he says that Jerusalem did not cause the conflict to erupt this time, but it may cause it to prolong it.