Israeli troops and armor launched an hours-long ground raid into northern Gaza late Wednesday night and into Thursday morning (October 25-26), targeting several Hamas installations to "prepare the battlefield" before an anticipated ground invasion.
The raid, which included indigenous Merkava tanks of the Israel Defense Force (IDF), was the latest in a series of military actions since the bloodshed Hamas initiated earlier this month.
The IDF said Israeli soldiers reportedly killed fighters and destroyed militant infrastructure and anti-tank missile launching positions without any casualties on their side.
However, there was no immediate confirmation of any Palestinian deaths or injuries.
Gaza's Deteriorating Situation
The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry reported on Wednesday that there were over 750 people dead in the past 24 hours, which was higher than the 704 killed the previous day (Tuesday, October 24). However, the Associated Press could not independently verify the death toll, and the ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Also on Wednesday, The wife, two children, and grandson of Al Jazeera Gaza bureau chief Wael Dahdouh were killed in an Israeli airstrike, and the Qatar-based network showed footage of his grief as he mourned his dead son.
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Retired Israeli General: It's Just the Beginning
The IDF has since stressed they were only striking military targets and accused Hamas of operating and launching rockets among civilians in the densely-populated strip.
Benny Gantz, retired Israeli general and member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet, told reporters the anticipated ground offensive would only be "one stage in a long-term process that includes security, political and social aspects that will take years."
"The campaign will soon ramp up with greater force," he added.
The remarks echoed Netanyahu's vow to eliminate Hamas for its attack on civilians on October 7.
"We brace for a ground incursion. I won't detail when, how, or how much. I also won't specify the set of considerations we weigh," he said. "When we enter Gaza, we'll make Hamas pay the price for its attack."
