A sign of an even more imminent land incursion? In any case, Israel carried out "targeted operations" with tanks in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday night, the Israeli army said. "In order to prepare for the next phase of the fighting, the IDF operated in northern Gaza. IDF tanks and infantry hit many terrorist cells and anti-tank missile positions," she said on X (ex-Twitter). According to the IDF, its soldiers "have since left the area and returned to Israel."
On Telegram, the IDF clarified that the operation was led by the Givati Brigade - an infantry brigade - and that it was aimed at "preparing the battlefield".
In order to prepare for the next phase of the fighting, the IDF operated in northern Gaza.
IDF tanks and infantry struck numerous terrorist cells and anti-tank missile positions.
The soldiers have since left the area and returned to Israel. pic.twitter.com/KgZU0ISH5P
— IDF (@Tsahal_IDF) October 26, 2023
Since Hamas' terror attack on Israel on October 7, the signals of a ground incursion by the Israeli army into the Gaza Strip have been growing stronger. The IDF had already carried out some targeted ground incursions into the area, presumably to prepare the ground as well. Above all, Israeli shelling of the Gaza Strip intensified last week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has, since the Hamas terror attack, been very clear about his intentions: "Every member of Hamas is a dead man."
Already about ten days ago, Israel had ordered the evacuation of civilians from the northern Gaza Strip, the area through which Israeli forces are expected to return. But weather conditions and the numerous visits of foreign leaders to Israel - such as Emmanuel Macron's on Tuesday - may have delayed the operation, which nevertheless seems inevitable.
>>> More information to come...