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ISRAEL wiped out “numerous” Hamas terrorist cells overnight as tanks rolled over the border into Gaza in the biggest incursion so far.
Footage showed tanks, troops and bulldozers storming into northern Gaza in a dramatic “targeted raid” ahead of a full-scale ground invasion.
Israel’s bulldozers can be seen clearing the way for armoured vehicles to cross the border before a huge column of tanks roll down a road.
The footage shows tanks firing on several targets “in preparation for the next stages of combat”.
A huge plume of smoke can be seen pouring into the night sky as Israeli troops blast a target near a built-up area.
It’s understood Israeli forces are preparing the ground in Gaza by making sure entry points aren’t mined, wiping out Hamas outposts, and gathering intelligence.
The Israeli Defence Forces said tanks and infantry raided “numerous terrorist cells, infrastructure and anti-tank missile launch posts” in the nighttime raid.
Israel’s Army Radio said it was the biggest incursion so far in the war as Israel’s tanks and troops swarm the border.
“In preparation for the next stages of combat, the IDF operated in northern Gaza,” the IDF said.
“IDF tanks & infantry struck numerous terrorist cells, infrastructure and anti-tank missile launch posts.
“The soldiers have since exited the area and returned to Israeli territory.”
It’s not the first time Israeli soldiers and tanks have entered Gaza since October 7 – when Hamas gunmen poured into Israel, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping hundreds more.
It’s thought Israel’s invasion of Gaza could begin as early as this week.
Israel has already massed tanks, called up over 360,000 troops, and evacuated its own civilians from the border area.
The IDF vowed to ramp up airstrikes on Gaza as it prepares for the “next stage of war” – but the US reportedly made a request for more time to get its defences in place.
On Wednesday, PM Benjamin Netanyahu warned “Hamas is doomed” and claimed troops have already “eliminated thousands of terrorists”.
He vowed to do everything in his power to return hostages back to their families before launching their ground offensive.
Speaking from Tel Aviv, he said: “All Hamas militants are doomed,” adding people are working “around the clock” to wipe out the terrorists.
But the PM refused to provide details of “when and how” the ground offensive will take place.
“I want to make it very clear, the timing of the operation of the IDF is unanimously determined by the cabinet that runs the war along with the chief of the general staff,” he said.
“We work in order to secure the best optimal conditions for their next operations.”
American officials are said to have persuaded IDF forces to hold off until they can deliver air defence systems to the region to protect their troops.
The US is working to get almost a dozen of the advanced air defence systems to the region amid fears of an all-out war, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Officials believe troops could be targeted by other militant groups, as well as Hamas, once Israel‘s long awaited invasion begins.
There are fears among some experts that the regional conflict could spiral out into an all-out world war.
Officials are also trying to free 200 Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
It’s feared many of the captives are being held in Hamas’ mysterious 311-mile maze of underground tunnels in the strip that Lifshitz described as a “spider web”.
Israel’s ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, warned the operation against Hamas will be complicated.
“Hamas used all the humanitarian aid that went into Gaza in the last few years to build this underground tunnel city,” she told Sky News.
“Every tunnel cost $3m (£2.5m) – altogether, Israel exposed over 30 tunnels.
“$100m (£82m) in humanitarian aid could have been supplied to the Gaza people – but no, Hamas created this war machine, this horrific underground metro.”
It comes as Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden confirmed he will be chairing a COBRA meeting to discuss the Brits currently being held hostage by Hamas.
Five UK nationals remain missing.
Dowden said Britain is calling for a pause in the war between Israel and Hamas so humanitarian aid can enter Gaza – but not a ceasefire.
“We shouldn’t be saying to the Israel government ‘you’ve got to stop action’ in a way that wouldn’t enable it to eliminate this threat,” he told Sky News.
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