ISRAEL has begun its full invasion of Gaza City as it aims to fully wipe out Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Wednesday.
IDF troops have now taken control of the outskirts of the city which is one of the terror group’s last strongholds, Israeli military spokesperson Brig Gen Effie Defrin said.
ReutersAn Israeli military convoy manoeuvres in Gaza on August 20[/caption]
ReutersThe IDF have begun their invasion of Gaza City, the Israeli military has said[/caption]
ReutersThe military aim to wipe out Hamas[/caption]
After a brutal clash with Hamas militant south of Khan Younis in the Gaza strip on Wednesday, Defrin said they would “deepen the blows to Hamas in Gaza City, a terror stronghold”.
He added: “We will deepen the blows to the terror infrastructure above and below ground, and disconnect the reliance of the population on Hamas.
“We have begun the preliminary operations and the first stages of the attack on Gaza City, and already now IDF forces are holding the outskirts of Gaza City.”
The spokesperson also told how the IDF were “not waiting” and that initial operations were underway in the area.
He also said that the invasion would be launched against a “battered and bruised” Hamas.
It comes after the Israel Defense Forces called up 60,000 reservists in preparation for the assault on Wednesday.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the army to “shorten the timelines for seizing the last terror strongholds and for the defeat of Hamas”.
But the leader did not specify a timeline outlining when exactly the strongholds would be taken down.
Last week, Netanyahu said his plan to fully invade the enclave was “the best way to end the war”, stressing that his country had “no choice”.
Netanyahu highlighted the terror group’s last two strongholds as Gaza City and camps n the al-Mawasi area along the coast.
His plan was met with international backlash, with world leaders citing the devastating humanitarian situation for Gazan locals which could worsen if the plans went ahead.
Israeli defence minister Israel Katz rejected the criticism and said that plans had been approved to push into the city.
He added that the invasion would include extending the service of an additional 20,000 reservists already fighting.
The top aide said: “We now call on our heroic soldiers in the reserves, permanent and regular ranks, to stand up in order to bring about the release of the hostages, the subjugation of Hamas, and the end of the war on the terms set by Israel.”
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