Israeli ground forces backed by fighter jets and drones carried out a “targeted attack” in Gaza last night in the latest preparation for a ground offensive.

“During the last day, IDF ground forces, accompanied by IDF fighter jets and UAVs, conducted an additional targeted raid in the central Gaza Strip,” an army statement said.

“The IDF identified and struck numerous terror targets, including anti-tank missile launch sites, military command and control centres, as well as Hamas terrorists,” it said, adding that troops “exited the area at the end of the activity”.

Armoured vehicles and thick clouds of dust could be seen on footage released by the military.

It follows a similar ground invasion the other night and as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated earlier this week that Israel was “preparing for a ground offensive”.

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