Following its earlier offensive onslaught on Israel, Israeli ground troops reportedly stormed Palestine territories and began operating inside the Gaza Strip to combat Hamas.
In a statement issued Friday, the Israeli military confirmed the new development. The army claimed forces had invaded Gaza to fight militants, destroy weapons, and look for proof of missing Hamas hostages.
The announcement did not appear to signal the start of an anticipated ground assault on Gaza. Since last Saturday’s tragic incursion by Hamas militants, Israel has begun massing troops along the Gaza border.
In a statement issued today, the Israel Defense Forces revealed that infantry forces and tanks entered Gaza on Friday in “localized raids” to clear the area of potential terrorists and locate missing Israelis, a likely precursor to a full-scale incursion in response to the weekend Hamas onslaught that killed over 1,300 Israelis.
According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, armored and infantry forces carried out searches and “thwarted anti-tank guided missile squads that intended to infiltrate into Israeli territory.
“The forces located findings that may help in the effort to locate the missing,” Hagar said. “We will continue to make every effort to find every detail about the missing and hostages.”
It is estimated that Hamas held between 150 and 200 people hostage during their deadly assault on Saturday. So far, the Israeli Defense Forces have informed 120 families that their relatives are being held in the Gaza Strip.
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