Israel on Thursday launched a ground incursion into the Gaza Strip to destroy tunnels it says are used for terrorist activities by Hamas fighters.
The Israel Defense Forces’ spokesman’s office announced the operation by a “large IDF force” late Thursday following the order given by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon.
“Our goal is to target Hamas’ tunnels that enable terrorists to infiltrate Israel and carry out attacks. This requires precise operations,” the spokesman’s office said. Israeli troops on Thursday stopped an attempted Hamas infiltration from the Gaza Strip, forcing 13 infiltrators back into tunnels.
The number of casualties since the start of the ground offensive last night has reached 23 Palestinians, taking the total Gaza death toll since the start of the wider conflict to 260. One Israeli solder has been killed so far in the ground offensive, while a number of other soldiers were wounded overnight. Israel has said the invasion would be limited in scope - targeting tunnels dug by gunmen - and said it was not intended to topple Hamas, the Gaza Strip's dominant Islamist group.
The IDF has so far attacked more than 100 targets also including rocket launchers. Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Motti Almoz said: "We are using a very high level of fire power and artillery. A great number of soldiers are in action in the Gaza Strip, soldiers are overtaking their targets, tunnels, Hamas targets."
Israel launched Protective Edge in response to increased rocket fire on the country from Gaza. The Obama administration, which during the conflict has backed Israel’s right to defend itself, has said it would oppose a ground incursion.
Netanyahu warned on Friday that the military was prepared for a "significant expansion" of the ground offensive. "My instructions ... are to prepare for the possibility of significantly widening the ground operation, and the military is preparing accordingly." The PM also told reporters that a ground assault was the "only way" to hit Gaza's tunnels, used by Hamas operatives to evade aerial bombing.
