Watch part two

The tanks roll in despite the international outcry. The Israeli ground offensive in Gaza gets underway and is moving the war to another level.

The Israeli army has entered Gaza from five different positions almost all around the Strip. Tanks were reported to be in battles around Gaza City and the northern towns of Beit Lahiya and Jabaliya.

But can victory be clearly defined by either side? Is a military victory possible and what is the political price of the war?

Judging from the war on Lebanon in 2006, it seems the Israeli criteria is to achieve a face-saving operation that gives an impression of a strong army capable of protecting Israeli public. 

It seems Israel wants to demonstrate its strength, to silence Hamas rockets and to impose its conditions on Hamas to accept an unconditional ceasefire, without making any commitment to open the border crossings in return.

On the other hand Hamas can claim victory if an international resolution is issued imposing a ceasefire on both sides before Israel achieves its announced objectives of silencing all rocket fire from Gaza.

Either way, it seems that all sides maintain that things will never be the same again in Gaza once the dust settles. But what is a new political order likely to look like?

This episode of Inside Story airs from Sunday, January 4, 2009 at 1730GMT and 2230GMT with repeats at 0430GMT and 0830GMT on Monday.