Israeli tanks enter northern Gaza Strip: IDF infantry enters the Palestinian belt overnight, the biggest assault of the war, to carry out “targeted raids” on “terror cells” and prepare for a full ground invasion against Hamas

Overnight, Israeli forces, including tanks, rolled into the northern Gaza Strip in the biggest assault yet in the war against Hamas, carrying out “targeted raids” on “terror cells” before a full-scale ground invasion.

In a sign that Israel is expanding its attacks on Gaza, the military said ground troops struck several targets in the Hamas-ruled enclave on Thursday before withdrawing.

The IDF said tanks and infantry attacked numerous terrorist cells, infrastructure and anti-tank missile launch sites “as part of preparations for the next phases of the fight” against Hamas.

Israel’s battle-hardened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hamas terrorists that they were “doomed” in a televised statement last night as he vowed to press ahead with a ground invasion.

Israeli tanks and troops are gathered on the Gaza border awaiting orders. Israel has called up 360,000 reservists. International pressure to delay an invasion of Gaza is growing, not least because of the hostages. More than half of the estimated 220 hostages held by Hamas have foreign passports from 25 different countries, the Israeli government said. Many of them were believed to have dual Israeli citizenship.

Mr Netanyahu said the fight against the Hamas killers who massacred around 1,500 Israeli civilians on October 7 was necessary to “save our country” and that the airstrikes on Gaza were just “the beginning”.

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, Israeli armored vehicles take part in an operation in a location referred to as the northern Gaza Strip in this still from a handout video released on October 26, 2023

In a sign that Israel is expanding its attacks on Gaza, the military said ground troops struck several targets in the Hamas-ruled enclave on Thursday before withdrawing

Tanks can be seen rolling along the border wall

On October 24, 2023, an Israeli Merkava tank is deployed along Israel’s border with Gaza along with other armored vehicles

Israeli airstrikes bomb Gaza on October 25, 2023

But questions remain about the exact time frame after reports that the country delayed the ground attack to allow the US to send anti-missile missiles to the region.

In a televised address last night, Mr Netanyahu said: “We have set ourselves two main goals for this war: to destroy Hamas by destroying its military and state capabilities and to do everything in our power to return our hostages home.” All Hamas fighters are doomed. Above ground, below ground, inside and outside Gaza.’

Hamas is believed to be holding around 222 hostages in Gaza, ranging in age from nine months to 85 years.

Mr. Netanyahu acknowledged that an “examination of conscience” was needed to find out how the terror group was able to carry out the murderous Oct. 7 attack without the knowledge of the country’s intelligence services.

But he said his job now was to lead Israel to “complete victory” over its enemies. He added: “When we enter Gaza later in our fight, we will receive the full price from the terrorists who committed these Hamas atrocities.”

Mr Netanyahu said the country’s Special War Cabinet had made the final decision on when troops would enter the blockaded Palestinian enclave. He said he “would not say” how or when the invasion would take place, nor how extensive it would be.

However, last night it was suggested that the planned attack had been put on hold at the request of the White House.

The Pentagon is seeking to deploy nearly a dozen air defense systems to protect U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East, including in Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait and Syria.

More deadly attacks on Gaza on October 25, 2023

The satellite image shows the Palestinian city of Beit Hanun in the north of the Gaza Strip on October 10th

Satellite image shows damaged areas in the Palestinian city of Beit Hanoun due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip, October 21, 2023

Satellite image shows the Palestinian city of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, May 1, 2023

Satellite image shows damaged areas in the Palestinian city of Beit Hanoun due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip, October 21, 2023

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Jerusalem, Tuesday, October 24, 2023

The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. officials were concerned that terrorist groups across the region would attack American troops once the raid begins.

There have been at least 13 drone and missile attacks in Iraq and Syria since October 18, injuring about two dozen US soldiers. However, President Joe Biden denied the reports, telling reporters: “It’s their decision, but I didn’t demand it.”

Israel is also considering the need to provide humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip, as well as diplomatic efforts to free more hostages from the clutches of Hamas. A large-scale ground attack threatens to further escalate geopolitical tensions in the region.

On Tuesday, a news agency with ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it was “likely” that Lebanon’s Tehran-backed Hezbollah group would become drawn into war with Israel.

During a trip to Cairo yesterday, French President Emmanuel Macron said a “massive” ground attack on Gaza would be a mistake, suggesting instead that the international coalition fighting the terror group Isis should be revived to root out Hamas.

Mr. Biden warned: “There is no going back to the October 6 status quo” between Israelis and Palestinians.

Speaking alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Biden said he would “guarantee” that Israel “has what it needs to defend itself against these terrorists.”

Last night Mr Netanyahu pledged to enlist the support of the international community for the impending invasion. He said: “We are mobilizing the support of world leaders to continue this campaign, and many of them today understand what we have been repeating since 2014: Hamas is Isis and Isis is Hamas.”

“I tell them that our war against Hamas is also their war against Hamas… it is a fight between the axis of evil of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran and the axis of progress and freedom.”

Eight Syrian soldiers were killed by Israeli airstrikes in southwest Syria yesterday, according to the Syrian state news agency Sana. The Israeli military said its fighter jets hit Syrian army infrastructure and mortar launchers, which it described as a response to rocket fires from Syria into Israel.