Gaza Conflict: Hamas vows to repel ground invasion by Israel

Israel’s military expanded its air and ground attacks on the Palestinian enclave on Saturday, raising the possibility that the long-promised ground offensive has started. In response, Hamas vowed to repel Israeli attacks with “full force”.

Without providing further details, Israel stated on Saturday morning that its troops, deployed on Friday night, remained in the field. Earlier, during three weeks of bombardment to drive out Hamas fighters, who it said had killed 1,400 Israelis on October 7, the nation had only undertaken fleeting strikes into Gaza.

“The forces are still in the field and continuing the war,” Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told a news briefing on Saturday morning.

By Saturday morning, the internet and phone services in Gaza had been shut off for over 12 hours, resulting in an almost total blackout. Israeli bombardment, according to telecom companies and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, is to blame.

Hagari hinted that bombardment may stop, at least near the border with Egypt, where some help has been trickling in. On Saturday, he claimed, Israel would permit trucks delivering food, water, and medication to enter Gaza.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director of the World Health Organisation (WHO), claimed that the blackout was “making it impossible” for ambulances to get to the injured in Gaza.

“Evacuation of patients is not possible under such circumstances, nor to find safe shelter,” he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. He said also the WHO was not able to contact its staff and health facilities.

Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas Which controls Gaza claimed that its men were engaged in combat with Israeli troops close to the Israeli border.

Hagari had said on Friday night that its ground troops were expanding their operations in addition to carrying out massive airstrikes on Hamas-dug tunnels and other infrastructure.

“In addition to the attacks carried out in the last few days, ground forces are expanding their operations tonight,” he said.

“Overnight, IDF fighter jets struck 150 underground targets in the northern Gaza Strip, including terror tunnels, underground combat spaces and additional underground infrastructure. Furthermore, several Hamas terrorists were killed,” the military said.

The al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas, reported early on Saturday that its militants were engaged in combat with Israeli troops in the central region of Al-Bureij and in the northeastern town of Beit Hanoun in Gaza.

“Al-Qassam Brigades and all Palestinian resistance forces are fully prepared to confront the aggression with full force and thwart the incursions,” added the statement.

(With agency inputs)