Israeli military starts ground operation in Gaza
Published time: July 17, 2014 19:44
Edited time: July 17, 2014 20:52
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An Israeli missile hits Palestinian buildings in Gaza City on July 17, 2014.(AFP Photo / Thomas Coex )
An Israeli missile hits Palestinian buildings in Gaza City on July 17, 2014.(AFP Photo / Thomas Coex )
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to start a ground operation in Gaza, his office has announced.
"The prime minister and defence minister have instructed the IDF to begin a ground operation tonight in order to hit the terror tunnels from Gaza into Israel," the statement said.
FOLLOW UPDATES on Israel's military offensive in Gaza
A large IDF force has launched a new phase of Operation Protective Edge starting a ground operation in the Gaza Strip, IDF spokesperson has confirmed.
BREAKING NEWS: A large IDF force has just launched a ground operation in the Gaza Strip. A new phase of Operation Protective Edge has begun.
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) July 17, 2014
According to the statement, IDF goal is to target Hamas tunnels “enable terrorists to infiltrate Israel and carry out attacks.”
"We are now continuing with the ground forces to strike terrorist infrastructure, Hamas infrastructure, in multiple areas throughout the Gaza Strip," army spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner told reporters.
Hamas spokesman meanwhile said Israel's move is "foolish" and will have "dreadful consequences."
Witnesses and Gaza residents reported heavy artillery and naval shelling along the Gaza border.
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Israel launched Operation Protective Edge on July 8 following an escalation between Israel and Hamas. Around 230 Palestinians and one Israeli have been killed during the operation so far.
Israel’s latest ground operation comes after attempts to broker a cease-fire with Hamas failed to take hold. The last 10 days have seen both sides exchange rocket fire, resulting in the deaths of more than 220 Palestinians and one Israeli, with some attacks coming under intense scrutiny. Recently, four Palestinian children were killed by an Israeli airstrike while they were playing on a beach in Gaza.
Although both Israel and Hamas agreed to observe a brief suspension of hostilities following a request by the United Nations, reports indicated on Wednesday that Israel was considering sending boots on the ground in order to remove rockets and other weapons used by Hamas.
The last time Israel launched an extensive ground offensive in Gaza was back in January 2009, following an armed conflict that began the month prior in December. That offensive, known as Operation Cast Lead, began on January 3 and was tasked with a similar objective: to secure areas from which militants were launching rockets. The entire conflict – which ran from December 27, 2008 to January 18, 2009 –resulted in the deaths of up to 1,417 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.
AFP Photo / Thomas Coex
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