A ground offensive is a military action launched by land, using ground troops. It is a type of military operation that involves troops moving into enemy territory to engage in combat. In the context of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, a ground offensive would involve Israeli troops moving into Gaza to confront prepared Hamas positions, including combat tunnels developed extensively over the years and in some cases equipped with communication systems. Ground offensives are often launched after air strikes have been carried out to weaken the enemys defenses.