Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that calls for a ceasefire will not have any impact on the ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip, and that Israel will attack with “increasing intensity” in the days to come.

“No international pressure will prevent us from operating with full force,” Netanyahu insisted, adding that the US and other nations expressed support for the ongoing strikes.

Realistically the “international pressure” has been virtually nil, with only a handful of general calls for restraint and no serious efforts to start negotiations. A ground invasion seems only a matter of time.

Indeed, Israeli Army Chief Benny Gantz says the military is all set for the invasion, and just waiting for final instructions from the Netanyahu government. Netanyahu ducked questions about the prospect of ending the offensive, saying only that it would end when he feels he has achieved his goal. When asked about a ground invasion, Netanyahu would only say that Israel is “weighing all possibilities,” except of course for the possibility of not continuing its attacks.