The Israeli military says its troops and tanks briefly entered northern Gaza overnight into Thursday, hitting several militant targets as a wider ground incursion loomed after more than two weeks of war.
Israeli airstrikes have devastated parts of the Gaza Strip, leaving neighborhoods in rubble and hospitals struggling to treat masses of wounded with diminishing resources.
The war, now in its 20th day, is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides.
Hamas said Thursday that more than 7,000 Palestinians have been killed so far — more than three times the number killed in the six-week-long Gaza war in 2014.
Footage has been released showing the Armored Assault last night by the Israeli Defense Force into the Northern Gaza Strip involving a number of Merkava Mark lV Main Battle Tanks, Caterpillar D9 Armored-Bulldozers, and Puma Armored-Engineering Vehicles; during the Assault the… pic.twitter.com/s3JCgtk0N3
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 26, 2023
In the occupied West Bank, more than 100 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids following Hamas’ surprise rampage on Oct. 7 in southern Israel.
Take a look at the Israeli run into enemy territory —
Footage has been released showing the Armored Assault last night by the Israeli Defense Force into the Northern Gaza Strip involving a number of Merkava Mark lV Main Battle Tanks, Caterpillar D9 Armored-Bulldozers, and Puma Armored-Engineering Vehicles; during the Assault the… pic.twitter.com/s3JCgtk0N3
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 26, 2023
They provided no evidence. The radical Islamic terror organization has a history of exaggerating civilian deaths and of using human shields to intentionally increase the amount of civilian suffering.
The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify the death tolls cited by Hamas, which says it tallies figures from hospital directors.
The fighting has killed more than 1,400 people in Israel, according to Israeli officials, mostly civilians who died in the initial Hamas attack. Israel’s military has raised the number of remaining hostages in Gaza to 222 people, including foreigners believed captured by Hamas during the incursion. Four hostages have been released so far.
U.S. and other officials fear the fighting could spill over into a wider regional conflict.
The Associated Press contributed to this article