Israel’s military has announced “limited” ground raids into the Gaza Strip overnight with the aim of combating Hamas fighters, according to a report from the news agency Reuters. The military operations were carried out in an effort to dismantle locations where Hamas militants were preparing for attacks against Israel.
Here are ten key facts about this significant development:
- Israeli Ground Incursions: In a televised briefing, Israel’s military spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, revealed that the country’s ground forces had conducted raids inside Gaza. These operations involved both “armored and infantry” battalions.
- Deep Infiltration: Hagari explained that the incursions penetrated deep into Gaza, targeting “kill squads of terrorists” preparing for the next phase of the ongoing conflict.
- Search for Hostages: Israel’s military forces are also actively seeking information regarding missing hostages. Over 200 individuals were taken hostage by Hamas operatives during their infiltration and attacks on cities in southern Israel on October 7.
- Ongoing Retaliation: In response to these hostilities, Israel has been conducting extensive air strikes on the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory for over two weeks. Additionally, Israeli troops are being mobilized along the Gaza border, raising the possibility of a ground offensive.
- Extensive Military Strikes: Israel’s military has reported striking “over 320 military targets in the Gaza Strip” within the past 24 hours.
- Targeted Terror Sites: These military targets include tunnels housing Hamas militants, operational command centers, as well as Islamic Jihad terrorists, military compounds, and observation posts, as outlined in an official army statement.
- Hamas’ Response: Hamas issued a statement acknowledging the Israeli attacks and claimed to have destroyed the equipment of the Israeli raiding party, forcing them to retreat.
- Engagement with Infiltrating Force: According to Hamas, their fighters engaged with the Israeli force that had infiltrated, resulting in the destruction of two bulldozers and a tank. This engagement compelled the Israeli force to withdraw safely to their base.
- Civilian Displacement: Israel has issued warnings to over one million residents in northern Gaza to relocate southward for their safety. The United Nations reports that more than half of the Gaza Strip’s 2.4-million population has been displaced due to the ongoing conflict.
- Civilians Remaining in Danger: Despite evacuation warnings, hundreds of thousands of civilians are believed to remain in and around Gaza City in the north, either unwilling or unable to leave the conflict-affected areas.
The situation in the region remains highly volatile, with these latest developments reflecting the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
Sources By Agencies
