Israeli tanks and infantry launched a “targeted raid” on Gaza last night, in preparation for a wider a ground operation.

“Overnight, the IDF conducted a targeted raid using tanks in the northern Gaza Strip, as part of preparations for the next stages of combat,” the army said. The tanks and soldiers left Gaza after the operation.

The Israeli Defence Forces added that “soldiers located and struck numerous terrorists, terror infrastructure and anti-tank missile launch posts, and operated to prepare the battlefield”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced late on Wednesday that along with the heavy bombing campaign of Hamas-controlled Gaza, “we are preparing for a ground offensive”.

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