TEL AVIV, October 24. /TASS/. Israeli ground operation in the Gaza Strip may be delayed for a long period or not happen at all, The Times of Israel newspaper reported.

According to the report, the Israeli military is concerned that the release of hostages by the radical Palestinian movement Hamas will result in the country's political leadership failing to make an appropriate decision or delaying it significantly.

At the same time, the Israeli Defense Forces stated that they are fully prepared for a ground operation and completing assigned tasks in the Gaza Strip after launching over 550 missile strikes in 16 days, according to the newspaper.