Israeli military says it is preparing ground assault, but no decision has been made

The Israeli military says it is preparing for a possible ground operation in Gaza but that the nation’s political leaders have not yet decided on one.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told reporters Thursday that forces “are preparing for a ground maneuver if decided.”

Israel has called up some 360,000 army reservists and has threatened an unprecedented response to Hamas’ bloody, wide-ranging incursion over the weekend. It has been launching intense airstrikes on Gaza since the attack Saturday, as militants have fired thousands of rockets into Israel.