Israeli tanks conduct targeted raids in Gaza, then return to Israel

The Israeli army conducted targeted raids against Hamas infrastructure inside Gaza, with tanks and troops crossing the border. 

The IDF said the raid consisted of tanks in the northern Gaza Strip, as part of preparations for the next stages of combat.

“The activity was commanded by the Givati Brigade. During the activity, soldiers located and struck numerous terrorists, terror infrastructure and anti-tank missile launch posts, and operated to prepare the battlefield. The soldiers exited the area at the end of the activity,” the IDF said.

This is the second time Israeli soldiers have crossed the border into Gaza since the beginning of the war on October 7.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated in a live speech to the nation that the long awaited ground offensive in to Gaza is coming.

“The timing of the IDF action will be determined unanimously by the War Cabinet, together with the IDF Chief-of-Staff. Together with the Security Cabinet, we are working to ensure the optimal conditions for our soldiers in the coming actions. When we go into Gaza, in the continuation of the fighting, we will exact the full price from the murderers, those who perpetrated Hamas-ISIS’s horrors. I again call on the non-combatant population in Gaza – evacuate to the southern Gaza Strip,” he said.

“We are in the midst of a campaign for our existence. We have set two goals for this war: To eliminate Hamas by destroying its military and governing abilities, and to do everything possible to bring our captives home. All Hamas terrorists are dead men walking – above ground, below ground, outside Gaza,” he added.

Netanyahu also said that an investigation into the failure to prevent the Hamas massacre on October 7 would be conducted, falling short of taking direct responsibility, despite growing calls in the public for him to do so.

“The 7th of October is a dark day in our history. We will fully clarify what happened on the southern border and in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip. This failure will be investigated thoroughly. Everyone will need to provide answers, myself included, but all of this will happen only after the war,” he said.