Ground war on hold as US fortifies bases

Israel has agreed to delay the expected invasion of Gaza so the US can rush missile defences to the region to protect troop stationed there

GAZA/JERUSALEM: Israel has agreed to delay an expected invasion of Gaza for now so that the United States can rush missile defences to the region to protect US troops there, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing US and Israeli officials.

US officials have so far persuaded Israel to hold off until US air-defence systems can be placed in the region, as early as later this week, the WSJ said.

Israel is also taking into account in its planning the effort to supply humanitarian aid inside Gaza, as well as diplomatic efforts to free hostages held by Hamas militants, the news report said.

Threats to the US troops were of paramount concern, it said.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised statement on Wednesday Israel is preparing a ground invasion of Gaza, but he declined to provide any details on the timing or other information about the operation.

He said the decision on when forces would go into the Palestinian enclave, controlled by the Islamist movement Hamas, would be taken by the government's special war cabinet, which includes the leader of one of the centrist opposition parties.

"We have already killed thousands of terrorists and this is only the beginning," Netanyahu said.