GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — As the Israeli attack on Gaza enters its second week, more than 165 Palestinians have been killed, among them 41 children, 23 women and 15 senior citizens. An additional 1,130 Palestinians have been wounded, according to information obtained by Al-Monitor from the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

Amid these human losses, there are growing fears of an Israeli ground operation, which will further complicate the situation on the ground.

On the evening of July 10, Abu Abida, the spokesman for Hamas' military arm, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, asserted that a ground war offers an opportunity to free Israeli-held prisoners of war. The al-Qassam Brigades have prepared themselves for a long battle of many weeks. Abu Abida also said that Israel will not determine the timing of the conflict’s conclusion or its terms, emphasizing that the battle will involve many surprises.

Mahmoud al-Zahar, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, spoke to al-Aqsa satellite network on the evening of July 11 about his organization’s readiness for war. According to Zahar, the battle will be decisive and game changing, even if it continues for months.