Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the current ground operation in Gaza is merely the "second stage of the war," following the entry of additional Israeli forces into the territory.
This is reported by Bloomberg.
Netanyahu emphasized that this is "only the beginning" and vowed to make every effort to bring back those who have been captured.
Netanyahu warned that the conflict in Gaza would be both "difficult and long." He also issued a caution to Gaza's civilian population to relocate to the southern part of the territory.
Israel's Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, confirmed that Israel is now engaged in air, sea, and ground combat, and has struck Hamas with significant firepower.
No Other Way to Destroy Hamas
Israel's top military chief, Herzi Halevi, stated that there was "no other way" to "destroy" Hamas other than to "enter its territory with force." Israeli forces are expanding their ground operations to achieve their war objectives, according to official announcements.
Gaza experienced intense bombardment on Friday night, with Israeli fighter jets targeting 150 underground locations in the north.
The Palestinian telecom provider, Paltel, reported that the attacks led to a "complete disruption" of internet and communication services, isolating Gaza's 2.3 million residents from the outside world.
