The operation to take control of what is thought to be the final Hamas stronghold has been confirmed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the IDF
A ground offensive in Gaza City has been initiated by Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared on Tuesday.
During the opening session of his corruption trial, Netanyahu requested to be exempt from testifying because of the “important things happening,” stating that the IDF “has commenced an intensive operation in Gaza City.”
The military subsequently confirmed that two IDF divisions, comprising tens of thousands of personnel, had initiated expanded ground operations during the night as the army entered a “new stage” of its campaign against Hamas. The IDF reported that the 162nd and 98th divisions were spearheading the advance, with the 36th division slated to participate in the upcoming days.
This escalation comes after the Israeli Security Cabinet’s approval last month of plans to take Gaza City – one of the few areas not yet controlled by the IDF – in an action that could facilitate a complete takeover of the Palestinian enclave.
Although a ground assault was expected in October, the initial stages of the offensive, codenamed ‘Gideon’s Chariots B’, commenced weeks prior with intensified attacks on suspected Hamas positions, including high-rise structures, in addition to ground incursions on the periphery of Gaza City and various western neighborhoods.
Palestinian media outlets documented substantial strikes on Gaza City and its periphery on Monday night, with certain sources asserting that IDF tanks had penetrated the area.