Middle East expert Dag Henrik Tuastad believes that the escalating death toll in Gaza could prompt the United States to reverse its support for the Israeli government, particularly if the ground invasion of Gaza City proceeds. Tuastad warns of the risk of massacres and ethnic cleansing should the invasion occur.

As residents of Gaza City braced for a devastating ground invasion on Thursday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated he would negotiate a ceasefire "immediately." Tuastad views the continuation of initial attacks as a bad sign, especially as Netanyahu has also approved a plan "to take over Gaza to defeat Hamas."

Tuastad explains that continuing the invasion of Gaza City could indicate an unwillingness to agree to a ceasefire. He describes the situation in Gaza as a "fateful hour," especially as Hamas has accepted a proposal from Egypt and Qatar for a cessation of hostilities, and Israel is expected to respond yes or no within the next 24 hours.

Tuastad adds that the alternative is for Israel to enter an area populated by hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and forcibly evacuate them, which could lead to very dire consequences. "You risk mass murder. It is a fateful hour. The question is whether they will continue the invasion of Gaza and forcibly evacuate the residents – that is, ethnic cleansing," he says.

Tuastad believes that if a massacre occurs, it could become difficult for the Israeli government to proceed, even if it has already drawn widespread international condemnation for its warfare in Gaza. "The reason why one cannot rule out that this will be stopped is the danger of a massacre. There are so many emaciated people in Gaza City who do not have the strength to leave the city. If you have to forcibly evacuate people and bomb tent areas and residential buildings, you risk an enormously high death toll."

Regarding the possibility of the United States changing its stance, Tuastad replies: "Yes. It is the TV images that primarily influence Trump. And when the TV images are bad, he demands a change." Tuastad notes that Israel will clarify its position "tomorrow."