Fierce Fighting Underway In The Gaza Strip
- 28.10.2023, 8:08
Israel has not officially announced the start of the ground operation.
Since the evening of October 27, Israel has intensified attacks on the Gaza Strip.
There were reports in a number of American and Arab media that the IDF could begin a ground operation in the enclave.
The Israel Defense Forces said Israeli infantry forces will “significantly expand” ground operations in the Gaza Strip on the night of October 28.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), said the following: “In recent hours we have expanded our attacks in Gaza. Fighter jets are broadly attacking terror tunnels, underground combat spaces and additional underground infrastructure. In addition to the attacks that we carried out in recent days, ground forces are expanding their activity this evening.”
He underlined that “the IDF is acting with great force... to achieve the objectives of the war.”
Arab media reported clashes between Hamas militants and IDF units that entered the Gaza Strip, including with tanks. After this, journalists noted, Israel launched new attacks on the strip.
According to Israeli media, the military wing of the Hamas terrorist group, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, says it is opposing “the IDF’s ground invasion of the Gaza Strip.”
Hamas said in a statement that “violent clashes” were taking place near Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip and Bureij in the center.
The US suggests that Israel's “expansion of military activity” in the Gaza Strip could be the beginning of a ground offensive. However, according to two US officials quoted by CBS News, the scale of the operation is not yet clear.
The New York Times spoke with an Israel Defense Forces spokesman who confirmed that some troops had entered the Gaza Strip, but declined to say whether this was the beginning of a ground invasion.
“Our troops and tanks are in the Gaza Strip. They shoot and act,” said Major General Nir Dinar, adding that “troops and tanks were in Gaza yesterday,” referring to the IDF’s raids in the enclave over the past two days.
The introduction of Israeli troops into the Gaza Strip was also reported by Haaretz, citing the words of local residents.
At the same time, The Jerusalem Post writes that Hamas terrorists entered into battle with Israeli forces in the north of the Gaza Strip, namely in the area of the city of Beit Hanoun.
CNN said thousands of IDF soldiers entered the Gaza Strip in the past two hours.
newsru.co.il sources in Gaza on the night of October 28 reported that the IDF Air Force, Navy and artillery continued to launch massive attacks on targets in the strip, mainly in its northern part.
According to these sources, strikes were carried out in the Sheikh Zayed City area, south and west of Beit Lahia in the north of the strip.