Israel intensified its attacks on Gaza late Thursday, as the country’s military said its troops were on the ground.
According to an army spokesman, seven people have been killed by shelling in Israel so far. In Gaza, more than 100 people have died, according to the Health Ministry there.
“I said Hamas will pay a very high price.
“The last word has not yet been spoken and this operation will go on as long as possible,”Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said of the attacks in a video message early Friday.
A Hamas military spokesman said an Israeli ground offensive would be an opportunity to bring more dead soldiers and prisoners of the enemy into our possession.
The Israeli army had earlier tweeted that “air and ground troops are currently attacking the Gaza Strip,” but a military spokeswoman could not elaborate on the statement.
The Times of Israel reported that some troops were positioned in an area that is technically part of Gaza’s territory but was effectively under Israeli control, and therefore cannot yet be deemed a ground offensive.
Defence Minister, Benny Gantz, had earlier approved the mobilisation of an additional 9,000 reservists, two days after the army mobilised 5,000 reservists.
Israeli television reported massive attacks by air, as well as by artillery and tank forces, and said it was the heaviest and broadest attack on the Gaza Strip since the escalation began on Monday.
The army urged Israelis living in border towns up to four kilometres from Gaza to seek shelter until further notice.
People in Tel Aviv fled to shelters during the day, after warning sirens sounded for the first time they had been heard in the city during daylight hours.
Palestinian militants have now fired more than 1,750 rockets from Gaza at Israel since the latest flare-up of fighting, Israel’s military said.
Israel has attacked almost 1,000 targets in Gaza with massive airstrikes, destroying three multi-storey buildings, Netanyahu said.
The Israeli military said fighter jets struck a Hamas intelligence compound in Gaza.
The site was used as Hamas’ main military observation centre, according to Israel. Dozens of Hamas members were present at the time of the attack, the military said, without stating whether anyone was killed.
(dpa)
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