Israel military launches tank incursion in Gaza ahead of ground operation

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday its Givati Brigade had temporarily entered the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli soldiers, the IDF said in a tweet, carried out overnight a “targeted raid using tanks” in the northern territory controlled by Hamas, which was “part of the preparation of the area for the next stages of combat”.

The statement added: “As part of the activity, the forces located and attacked many terrorists, destroyed terrorist infrastructures, anti-tank positions and carried out work to organise the area. The troops left the area at the end of the mission.”

The message was accompanied by two videos, including one showing armoured vehicles launching missile attacks.

Speaking about this military manoeuvre, Israel’s Army Radio described it as the biggest incursion of the current war.

Israel is expected to launch a full-scale ground invasion of Gaza within days, as it has urged Palestinians to evacuate northern Gaza and amassed a large number of military vehicles on its border with the territory.

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350,000 Palestinians won’t leave Gaza City

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have decided to remain in their homes in Gaza City despite Israel’s multiple calls for the evacuation of the northern part of the territory.

Palestinians were told to leave their home in the northern part of Gaza and to relocate south of Wadi Gaza as the IDF is likely to carry out a ground operation.

But those resisting the evacuation order said it doesn’t make sense to leave their houses and relocate to overcrowded shelters in the south, considering Israel is also launching air strikes there.

Putin weighs in on Israel-Hamas war

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed concerns the war between Hamas and Israel may spill over and turn into a regional conflict.

Speaking with religious leaders of different faiths in Russia, he said: “Our task today, our main task, is to stop the bloodshed and violence.

“Otherwise, further escalation of the crisis is fraught with grave and extremely dangerous and destructive consequences. And not only for the Middle East region. It could spill over far beyond the borders of the Middle East.”

Good morning

Good morning from London. I’m Alice Scarsi, I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on the war between Hamas and Israel.

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