ISRAEL has begun a “broad” invasion of Gaza as it launches a fresh offensive to seize the entire strip and wipe out Hamas.
The latest wave of attacks has provoked the group’s Houthi allies who have vowed to take revenge on Israel.
ReutersSmoke rises from Gaza following an explosion, as seen from Israel[/caption]
ReutersThe site of an Israeli strike on the Gaza Strip[/caption]
AFPIsraeli tanks at the border with the Gaza Strip[/caption]
The IDF said on Sunday that it had mobilised troops for “Operation Gideon’s Chariots” to seize “strategic areas” of the Strip.
Gideon’s Chariots – a reference to a biblical warrior – would see the IDF take and control territory as well as move civilians to the south of the strip and attack Hamas, according to The Times of Israel.
The military said: “Over the past day, IDF troops in the Southern Command, both the standing army and reserves, began a broad ground operation throughout the northern and southern Gaza Strip, as part of the start of Operation Gideon’s Chariots.”
The IDF’s Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, added that the operation’s goal was clear.
Zamir said: “Defeat the enemy and destroy its infrastructure wherever we operate.”
The IDF said that in the past week more than 670 “Hamas targets” have been struck down by the Israeli Air Force.
These attacks have had a devastating impact, with Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry saying that that at least 464 Palestinians have been killed in that time.
And an additional 130 people were reportedly killed in overnight strikes.
A spokesperson for the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said: “Complete families were wiped off the civil registration record by Israeli bombardment”.
The ministry also said the strikes had forced the closure of the Indonesian Hospital – the main hospital in northern Gaza.
Shocking aerial footage shows Israel launching the attacks while more footage shows its army gathering tanks on the ground.
The fresh offensive has sparked fury from Hamas’ staunch ally – the Houthis – who issued a chilling warning to Israel.
The Yemeni terror group vowed to take revenge on Israel – starting with their airports.
Houthi spokesperson Nasruddin Amer wrote on X: “Warning and caution: In the coming hours, the Yemeni armed forces, relying on God, will carry out military operations targeting Ben Gurion Airport in Lod and other Zionist airports.
“This is due to the recent Zionist escalation against the Gaza Strip and the aggression against Yemen, and in continuation of the Yemeni leadership’s decision to impose a ban on this airport and other airports, in addition to the naval ban and the closure of Umm al-Rashrash port until the aggression stops and the siege on Gaza is lifted.
“Disclaimer: The remaining airlines at the airport must leave immediately, and all those present there, especially foreigners, must leave for their safety.”
AFPSmoke billowing over destroyed buildings on the Gaza Strip during Israeli bombardment[/caption]
APIsraeli soldiers move tanks around staging area near the border with the Gaza Strip[/caption]
This comes after indirect talks are being held between Israel and Hamas in Qatar over the weekend.
Hamas has reportedly agreed to release nine hostages in exchange for a 60-day truce and Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners, according to the BBC.
The new proposed deal would also reportedly allow the entry of 400 aid trucks a day and the evacuation of medical patients from Gaza.
If Israel agree, the deal would bring an end to the aid blockade on the Gaza Strip which has been in place since March after a two-month ceasefire broke down between Israel and Hamas.
Israel previously said the decision to cut off aid was to force concessions from Hamas, which still holds dozens of Israeli hostages seized during October 7.
Hamas has released 38 hostages under the ceasefire that began on January 19, with the last known American hostage being released on Monday.
Hamas has reportedly demanded that Donald Trump declare a ceasefire and personally guarantee that Israel will not resume fire after the release of the hostages, according to 13TV.
The Palestinian group is also asking the US envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, to personally sign any agreement that is reached and shake hands with senior Hamas political bureau official Khalil al-Hayya.
This comes after the US President spoke out on Friday, saying that “a lot of people are starving” in Gaza.
He told reporters in Abu Dhabi: “We’re looking at Gaza. And we’re going to get that taken care of.”
Israel is yet to respond to the proposed deal but previously said that it would not withdraw troops from Gaza or commit to an end to the war.
GettyDestruction after an Israeli attack in Gaza[/caption]
Who are the Houthis?
THE Houthi rebels have spent months terrorising the Red Sea by launching persistent missile and drone attacks on vessels and warships – but who are they?
The Shia militant group, which now controls large swaths of Yemen, spent over a decade being largely ignored by the world.
However, since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, they sprung from relative obscurity to holding roughly £1trillion of world trade hostage – turning one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes into an active warzone.
Their warped battle cry is “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam”.
Why are they attacking ships?
After the October 7 massacre, Houthis began launching relentless drone and missile attacks on any ships – including warships – they deem to be connected with Israel in solidarity with their ally, Hamas.
In reality, they targeted commercial vessels with little or no link to Israel – forcing global sea traffic to largely halt operations in the region and sending shipping prices around the world soaring.
The sea assaults added to the carnage in the Middle East tinderbox as intense ripples from Israel’s war in Gaza were felt across the region – with Iran accused of stoking the chaos.
The Houthi chiefs pledged their Red Sea attacks would continue until Israel stopped its offensive in Gaza.
The group’s chiefs have previously said their main targets are Israel, and its allies the US and Britain.
And despite repeated threats from the West and joint US and UK strikes blitzing their strongholds in Yemen – Iran’s terror proxy appears undeterred.
The UK and US have hit Houthi bases as recently as this month after the terror group once again targeted boats in the shipping lane.
Israel has also hammered the group with airstrikes, reportedly hitting oil storage tanks at the port in Al Hudaydah.
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