Israel: Israeli forces, including troops and tanks, conducted a significant overnight ground operation in Gaza, with a full-scale ground invasion widely anticipated following nearly three weeks of intense air raids on the besieged Palestinian territory.
A video released by the Israeli army showed an overnight operation, featuring armoured vehicles moving through a sandy border area. In the footage, bulldozer levels a raised bank, tanks fire shells, and explosions can be observed near or within a line of damaged buildings.
Israel has conducted a series of small-scale advances into the Gaza Strip during the last two and a half weeks. However, according to Israel’s Army Radio, the recent incursion marked the largest one in the current conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu stated that, in addition to the intense bombing of Gaza, they are getting ready for a ground offensive.
The ground incursion follows a UN warning that the Gaza Strip is nearing a fuel shortage, which has led to a significant reduction in relief efforts in the area. Gaza has been under a complete siege since Israel initiated strikes that killed over 6,500 Palestinians in less than three weeks.
The strikes started following a Hamas assault in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of 1,400 Israelis.
According to Palestinian health authorities, the number of casualties in Gaza was rapidly increasing due to Israeli airstrikes. Rescuers were removing dead and injured civilians, including numerous children, from the debris in various cities throughout the region.
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