JERUSALEM - After 17 days of being on standby, Israeli ground troops and tanks continue to idle in the fields surrounding the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government's stated mission to invade Gaza and dismantle Hamas' military capabilities has faced delays and sparked questions among the Israeli public.

Following the incursion by hundreds of Hamas assailants into Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and the capture of more than 220 hostages who were taken back to Gaza, Israelis are growing impatient and demanding answers regarding the delay.

The United States has been pressuring Israel to hold off on the invasion to allow more time for negotiations to secure the release of the hostages, facilitate aid deliveries, and deploy additional U.S. military assets to the region. Within Israel, reports of internal differences within the government and between the political leadership and the military have further contributed to the atmosphere of infighting and uncertainty.

In an attempt to restore confidence, Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and military chief of staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi issued a rare wartime statement, assuring the public of their close cooperation and mutual trust. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesperson, added that the army was awaiting approval from the political echelon to proceed with the ground invasion.

While supporters of Netanyahu advocate for a cautious approach, a campaign has emerged urging the government to prioritize the lives of soldiers by allowing the air force more time to destroy Hamas' intricate tunnel network before sending in ground troops. However, experts argue that eliminating all tunnels through aerial attacks alone may prove impossible.

According to Ehud Yaari, an Israel-based fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, the Israeli government and military are grappling with the delicate balance between leveraging the air force's strengths and determining an optimal timing for the ground offensive. Destroying more tunnels from the air would make the operation easier for the forces on the ground.

During this interim period, Israel has been utilizing the time to expand its list of targets in Gaza, gathering intelligence, and interrogating the captured Hamas operatives who infiltrated Israeli territory. However, as the days pass, Israel may face a decline in international support, mounting Palestinian casualties, and an exacerbating humanitarian crisis within the Gaza Strip.

Additionally, concerns about the soldiers' morale and the impact on the Israeli economy and the state-funded evacuation of Israelis from border areas surrounding Gaza and the far north, where tensions with Hezbollah have escalated, are also being taken into account.

To instill public confidence, the Israeli military has announced that conscripts and reservists are undergoing a variety of training exercises to prepare for ground operations in Gaza, potentially aligning public perception of the military with that of the government.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, already fighting corruption charges in court, has faced criticism regarding the handling of the crisis. However, he has sought to bolster public confidence by bringing political rivals into the government and establishing a small war Cabinet with experienced decision-makers.

While recent opinion polls reveal that the Israeli public places more trust in the army than the government, there is a consensus that Hamas poses a threat that must be eradicated. Israelis are divided on the specifics of how to achieve this, but many view a ground invasion as inevitable, despite potential risks and casualties.

The delay in the ground invasion comes as Israel carefully assesses the possibility of Hezbollah and Iran escalating the conflict on the northern front once its military is enga