Israel is conducting a ground operation in the Gaza Strip
The Israeli Defense Forces announced that they had carried out a ground operation in the Gaza Strip on Thursday (26). According to Portal, a militarycontrolled radio station described the operation as “relatively large.”
The operation was carried out to attack Hamas positions in Gaza. According to the military, the targets include terrorist cells, infrastructure and antitank missile launch sites.
Israel Defense said the operation was carried out “in preparation for the next phases of combat.” After the attacks, the soldiers left the area and returned to Israeli territory.
A video released by the military shows tanks crossing a fence. At another point the tanks are firing. View above.
Israel has already carried out other concrete actions on land in the Gaza Strip. For example, on Monday (23), ground troops entered the region to search for information about people kidnapped by Hamas.
Since the start of the war on October 7th, the Israeli government has promised an occupation of the Gaza Strip. According to the Ministry of Defense, the planned occupation must take place in three phases:
- The first of these, which is already partially underway, consists of air strikes and the ground offensive.
- In a second moment, the soldiers will have to fight in “resistance areas” in the Gaza Strip.
- In the third phase, troops will be withdrawn and Israel will create “a new security regime” that will bring “a new reality for the security of Israeli citizens.”
1 of 1 FILE: Smoke is seen in a region of the Gaza Strip close to the border with Israel, October 25, 2023 Photo: Portal/Ammar Awad FILE: Smoke is seen in a region of the Gaza Strip close to the border Israel, October 25, 2023 Photo: Portal/Ammar Awad
▶️ How did the conflict begin? The confrontation began after the terrorist group Hamas fired hundreds of rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7.
- Armed men from the south of the country invaded Israeli territory by land, air and sea, on motorcycles and paragliders.
- There were reports that the invaders shot people in the streets and kidnapped dozens of Israelis (including women and children) and took them to Gaza as hostages.
▶️ What was Israel’s reaction? Faced with the Hamas offensive, the Israeli government began retaliatory measures.
- “We are at war and we will win,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said shortly after the attack. “Our enemy will pay a price he has never known.”
- Also on October 7, Israel launched bombing raids on the Gaza Strip.
▶️ What is and where is the Gaza Strip? It is the Palestinian territory located on a narrow piece of land on the western coast of Israel, on the border with Egypt.
- The city, which is characterized by poverty and overpopulation, has 2 million inhabitants who live in an area of 360 km².
- To get an idea of this size compared to Brazilian cities: the territory is slightly larger than that of the city of Fortaleza (312.4 km²) and smaller than that of Curitiba (434.8 km²).
- Gaza was captured by Israel in the SixDay War in 1967 and handed over to the Palestinians in 2005. Gaza is currently experiencing a blockade of goods and services imposed by its border neighbors.
▶️ What is the history of conflict in the region? The dispute between Israel and Palestine has been going on for decades and has resulted in numerous armed clashes and deaths.
- In its modern form, it dates back to 1947, when the United Nations (UN) proposed the creation of two states, one Jewish and one Arab, in Palestine under a British mandate.
Israel declares war after Hamas attack; understand