- Dec 29, 2008
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The IDF has entered Gaza, and a ground invasion is underway, IDF Spokesman R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari said Saturday morning.
“We have entered Gaza and are expanding operations,” Hagari said, adding that there were no reports of injuries.
He noted that “this is a war” but that the IDF operated in a controlled and strategic manner, with specific goals as its guide.
The IDF has been threatening a full ground invasion for more than two weeks, but due to a combination of reasons - some known and some unknown - a full incursion has yet to occur. On Thursday, the IDF sent troops inside Gaza to strike Hamas targets - both on the ground and via the sea. The troops entered and exited the strip in the same evening.
However, on Friday night, Hagari said that IDF troops were expanding their operations: “In the last few hours, we have severely increased our attacks in Gaza,” he said during an evening briefing, noting that attacks were taking place from the air, sea and land.
Hagari said 311 soldiers have been identified as dead since the Hamas massacre on October 7. So far, only four out of 229 known hostages have been set free. Hamas claimed that 50 hostages had been killed.
Hagari said that their assassinations represented significant progress toward Israel achieving its goal of dismantling Hamas and would make it easier for the ground troops to do their job.
He stressed that anyone attempting to infiltrate the country would be eliminated.
The Hezbollah rocket fire injured no soldiers in the last day.
Finally, the IDF said that it would uncover more information about how Hamas was harming its civilians. On Friday afternoon, the IDF unveiled Hamas’s underground terror network, including its use of Al-Shifa Hospital as a command and control center.
At the same time, Israel said it was allowing the international community to expand its humanitarian efforts and that more trucks of food, water, and medicine would enter Gaza on Saturday.
www.jpost.com
Hamas must die. Iran has made vague threats about what it would do if Israel launched the ground operation, so now we'll find out what they can do.
“We have entered Gaza and are expanding operations,” Hagari said, adding that there were no reports of injuries.
He noted that “this is a war” but that the IDF operated in a controlled and strategic manner, with specific goals as its guide.
The IDF has been threatening a full ground invasion for more than two weeks, but due to a combination of reasons - some known and some unknown - a full incursion has yet to occur. On Thursday, the IDF sent troops inside Gaza to strike Hamas targets - both on the ground and via the sea. The troops entered and exited the strip in the same evening.
However, on Friday night, Hagari said that IDF troops were expanding their operations: “In the last few hours, we have severely increased our attacks in Gaza,” he said during an evening briefing, noting that attacks were taking place from the air, sea and land.
Hagari said 311 soldiers have been identified as dead since the Hamas massacre on October 7. So far, only four out of 229 known hostages have been set free. Hamas claimed that 50 hostages had been killed.
Senior Hamas terrorists eliminated
Overnight, Israel also took out several senior Hamas terrorists, including the head of the aerial formation and the naval commando unit. Both terrorists played strategic roles in the planning of the October 7 Hamas massacre that killed more than 1,400 Israelis.Hagari said that their assassinations represented significant progress toward Israel achieving its goal of dismantling Hamas and would make it easier for the ground troops to do their job.
Israel, Hezbollah clashes in the North
Hagari added that throughout Friday and overnight, rockets were fired at Israel from Hezbollah in the North. The IDF returned fire and shot and killed terrorists trying to enter the country from the north.He stressed that anyone attempting to infiltrate the country would be eliminated.
The Hezbollah rocket fire injured no soldiers in the last day.
Finally, the IDF said that it would uncover more information about how Hamas was harming its civilians. On Friday afternoon, the IDF unveiled Hamas’s underground terror network, including its use of Al-Shifa Hospital as a command and control center.
At the same time, Israel said it was allowing the international community to expand its humanitarian efforts and that more trucks of food, water, and medicine would enter Gaza on Saturday.
Netanyahu: Israel fighting second War of Independence
IDF launches ground invasion to crush Hamas in Gaza.
www.jpost.com
Hamas must die. Iran has made vague threats about what it would do if Israel launched the ground operation, so now we'll find out what they can do.
