Well to close the loop, it looks like Debka’s projection of an imminent Israeli ground incursion did not happen - strike against Debka credibility.
Projection is always vulnerable to changing conditions - maybe Obama administration actions, like cutting off critical ammo resupply, drove them to hold fire.
Or maybe the threat of a big blow was just psyops, to favorably influence the negotiations that were about to begin in Cairo.
Or maybe Debka was just blowing it out their butt...
Anyhow, just wanted to own up, after having said let’s wait and see. You were right.
Things will no doubt change again in the future, and they may yet crush Hamas, who badly needs crushing.
This.
DEBKA is rarely right. It's been posted here and elsewhere for years as a source and has almost become something of a joke. I'd say DEBKA is a few people sitting around making educated guesses - and mostly bad ones.
It's been very obvious that Bibi did not want to send troops into Gaza for any longer than he had too. The tunnels was all he felt he could do without major casualties. As of today another cease fire deal has been inked and Bibi's poll numbers have tanked.
People on this forum and generally in the US have this idea that Netanyahu is this war hawk tough guy, but in reality he is very cautious and tends to be more of a "speak loudly and look for the easiest way out" camp. Many in Israel consider this fight against Hamas as having been a loss. Netanyahu may pay a steep price for letting things end this way since Hamas can legitimately claim some small achievements as far as border crossings, fishing rights, etc.