Israel inched closer to launching a full invasion of Gaza Saturday, massing troops on the enclave’s border and “preparing to expand” its response to last week’s brutal terror attack on Israeli civilians.
The Israeli Defense Force signaled the imminent attack on Hamas forces with a lengthy post on its website hours after the close of a 24-hour evacuation window it had set for Gaza residents on Friday.
“This is our hour to stand this test, and our job is to decide and win this war,” Col. Bnei Aharon, commander of the IDF’s 401st Brigade, said in the military’s post “We have the best people, we have the best general. We are a combination of the best forces in the world.”
The IDF’s web page boasted that Israel will conduct “an integrated and coordinated attack from the air, sea and land” — but did not indicate when the operation will begin.
A series of forward logistics centers have been established within Israel to keep the troops taking part in the “significant ground operation” supplied, the military said.
“We are deployed and strongly prepared for the next stages of the war,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the military’s top spokesman, said in a Saturday news conference.
“We are preparing the forces, going over plans, prepared in all arenas, south, north and center,” he said.
“We are focused on Gaza but are widely deployed” across Israel, he added.
“That allows us to operate simultaneously in all arenas.”
More than 1,300 Israeli civilians were slain by Hamas in a series of attacks Oct. 7, with at least 120 more taken into Gaza as hostages.
2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip over three decades after winning the territory from Egypt in the Six-Day War.
2006: Terrorist group Hamas wins a Palestinian legislative election.
2007: Hamas seizes control of Gaza in a civil war.
2008: Israel launches military offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists fired rockets into the town of Sderot.
2023: Hamas launches the biggest attack on Israel in 50 years.
Over 1,300 Israelis are dead, more than 3,000 are wounded and at least 100 were taken hostage, with the death toll expected to rise after Hamas terrorists fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of militants into Israeli towns.
Hamas terrorists were seen taking female hostages and parading them down the street in horrifying videos.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced “We are at war” and vowed Hamas would pay “a price it has never known.”
Gaza health officials report at least 1,400 Palestinians have been killed and more than 6,000 injured.
In the days since, Israel has pummeled Gaza with more than 6,000 airstrikes, killing at least 2,200 Palestinians.
“The next stage is coming,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told IDF service members during a Saturday visit to two of the kibbutzes that were ravaged by Hamas terrorists last week.