Gaza Ground War: Day One

Resistance has been lighter than the Israelis expected, allowing Israeli troops and tanks to secure positions 1,000 ft. (300 m) or so from the edge of built-up areas. At that distance, they are out of range of Palestinian rifle fire, though still within mortar range.

The lack of resistance could be tactical. Hamas' best chance of inflicting damage on the better equipped, better trained Israelis is to engage them in battles in the labyrinthine streets of Gaza's cities. But one senior Israeli commander who spoke to TIME says the Palestinians are unable to communicate as easily as they normally do. At the beginning of the ground offensive, Israel destroyed the cell towers of Gaza's cell-phone company. Hamas commanders, Israeli officials believe, have been reduced to sending messages by foot or using the landline system or walkie-talkies. The breakdown in communications means Hamas militants "are confused," according to the Israeli commander. "They spent the first few hours of our ground offensive working out where they were being attacked from." (Read "The Two-State Solution Now a Three-Way Stalemate.")

At a Cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv on Sunday morning, the head of Israel's domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said Hamas is worried that its control of Gaza will collapse and is already discussing ways it can push for peace while still maintaining the appearance of defiance. Israeli officials reportedly say that the ground offensive will last a "few weeks" and that the two sides will then negotiate a new cease-fire. Israel wants to use that time to severely weaken Hamas' military capabilities. A day into the ground campaign, officials feel confident that they're doing just that. A message sent by the Israeli chief of staff to his troops just before the ground offensive began captures the mood well. "Our enemies were mistaken when they believed that we were weak and would not fight back," it read. Israelis hope that optimism and sense of momentum lasts. But a kidnapping or two, or some serious engagements in Gaza's urban jungle, and the mood could change very quickly.

See pictures of life under Hamas in Gaza.