Israeli army marches on Gaza

Ynet news Friday 18th July, 2014

israeli army marches on gaza

• Israeli invasion now involving land, sea and air, 271 Palestinians dead so far, 2,000 wounded

• Ground troops pour into Gaza at 1030pm Thursday night, one Israeli soldier killed

• 33,000 Israeli soldiers in action, 18,000 more reservists called up

The Israeli army began a ground incursion into the Gaza Strip at 10:30pm on Thursday night, as Israel made good on the next stage of the operation, which it warned would happen if the rocket fire from the Hamas-controlled area did not stop.

Infantry, armored, engineering, artillery and intelligence troops are working in cooperation by sea and air, with the assistance of the Shin Bet and other security forces, and led by the Southern Command.

The Israeli army said it will be calling in 18,000 additional reserve soldiers during the night.

Fourteen armed Palestinian combatants were killed at first light Friday, while an Israeli army soldier was also killed. The Palestinian death toll has now risen to 271, while more than 2,000 have been wounded.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon instructed the army to begin its ground operation, in order to attack the terror tunnels penetrating into Israel from the Gaza Strip.

The prime minister and defense minister have instructed the army to be prepared to expand the ground operation.

Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Moti Almoz said the operation "will continue in conjunction with continuous situation assessments by the IDF General Staff."

Almoz went on to say that "the forces operating in the operation are of highest readiness and fitness for their task after a period of increased training and planning and thorough preparation."

The ground operation began with heavy artillery shelling of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. According to the Palestinians, three people have been killed in the artillery attack, including one child.

The army fired numerous flares to light up the night sky over the Strip, and the Israeli air force increased its aerial strikes, while attack helicopters were circling the northern Gaza sky. The Navy fired several shells from the sea.

Tanks then entered the Strip and started firing at targets. As a result of the fighting, the power in the Strip is going out on and off at different areas. Out of 10 power lines in Gaza, two went dark two days ago and four went dark on Thursday night.

The army was planning to take over areas in the Strip and work to locate and destroy the terror attacks in these areas. The army also prepared additional stages of operation, including getting all the way to the Gaza beach.

"This step is being carried out as a continuation of the objectives achieved so far, and to deal a further serious blow to the Hamas terrorist organization and improve the security situation," the IDF spokesman said.

Residents living near the Gaza border have been instructed to enter bomb shelters and safe room, as a heavy barrage of rockets was fired at southern and central Israel.

"The IDF Home Front Command has taken the necessary steps in all relevant areas, and residents of those areas are called upon to heed defensive instructions as they issued by the media," Almoz said.

The order to take action Thursday night received Cabinet approval after Israel agreed to an Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire on Tuesday but Hamas rejected it and continued firing rockets at Israeli cities. Nor did Hamas respect the humanitarian ceasefire initiated by the United Nations earlier Thursday, the IDF sais, saying they continued to fire at Israel during the truce.

"In light of Hamas' incessant criminal aggression and dangerous infiltration into Israeli territory, Israel must act to protect its citizens," a statement from the Israeli prime minister's office said.

"Operation Protective Edge will continue until it has achieved its purpose - restoring quiet to the citizens of Israel for an extended period, with significant damage to the infrastructure of Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip," the statement went on to say.

The incursion signals a new stage in the IDF's Operation Protective Edge, which began 10 days ago in the face of the ongoing rocket barrages on southern communities. Since the start of the operation, militants in the Strip have expanded their targets to include areas of central Israel, with Tel Aviv and Jerusalem coming under fire, along with Holon, Bat Yam, Rishon Lezion and Yavne.

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