South China Morning Post - Israeli soldiers make a limited tank foray into the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected wider incursion.
- Netanyahu says Israel preparing attack, as world leaders called for efforts to protect civilians in Gaza.
Israel said on Thursday that a column of tanks and infantry had launched an overnight raid into Hamas-controlled Gaza, striking “numerous” targets before retreating to home soil.
The military announced the incursion into the north of the Palestinian territory hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared preparations for a ground war were under way.
The Israel Defence Forces described the operation as a “targeted raid” that hit “numerous terrorist cells, infrastructure and anti-tank missile launch posts”.
It said the operation was “preparation for the next stages of combat” adding that “the soldiers have since exited the area and returned to Israeli territory” …
