A view shows rockets launched from Gaza, as seen from Israel's border with Gaza, in southern Israel, on Oct 28.The Israeli military appears to have begun an invasion of Gaza, sending troops into the enclave, in what appears to be its longest and most ambitious ground incursion.
Israeli Defence Force fighter jets struck over 450 military targets belonging to Hamas in Gaza, including operational command centres, observation posts and anti-tank missile launch posts, the military said. Israel will allow a dramatic increase in aid to Gaza in the coming days, and Palestinian civilians should head to a “humanitarian zone” in the south of the tiny territory, said Colonel Elad Goren of Cogat, the Israeli Defence Ministry agency that coordinates with the Palestinians.
Displaced Palestinians staying in tents in Gaza’s Khan Younis described dire living conditions, with little access to food and water and having to queue hours for the toilet. “This is the second stage of the war whose goals are clear – to destroy Hamas’ governing and military capabilities and to bring the hostages home,” Mr Netanyahu told reporters.Israel sent troops and tanks into Gaza on Friday night, focusing on infrastructure including the extensive tunnel network built by Hamas, the Israeli military said. It provided no details on the size of the deployment.