In a recent development, Israel has confirmed that a column of tanks and infantry conducted an overnight raid into Gaza, a Hamas-controlled territory. This operation, described as a “targeted raid” by the Israel Defense Forces, aimed at striking “numerous terrorist cells, infrastructure, and anti-tank missile launch posts” in preparation for future combat stages.
The incursion into the northern part of Gaza came shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced the initiation of preparations for a ground war. Israel is visibly on edge, with Netanyahu emphasizing the critical nature of the situation, stating, “We are in the midst of a campaign for our existence.”
Video footage shared by the military depicted a column of armored vehicles and bulldozers advancing toward what appeared to be a border fence, eventually breaching it. The precise timing of this footage could not be verified, but it was geographically located south of the Israeli city of Ashkelon.
Another video indicated an airstrike followed by the targeting of buildings with munitions, resulting in debris being launched into the air and the emergence of thick plumes of smoke. This operation underscores the escalating tensions in the region, which have been on the rise since the deadly attacks by Hamas on October 7. The attack saw a significant incursion of Hamas gunmen from Gaza into Israel, leading to casualties and kidnappings. In response, Israel has launched a series of airstrikes, with a substantial toll on the Gaza Strip’s population. If Israeli troops currently amassed near Gaza take further action, the situation is expected to escalate further.