Latest updates on the Israeli ground invasion of the Gaza Strip
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- Published on Friday, 18 July 2014 00:27
PNN/Gaza
Israel has launched a ground operation in the Gaza Strip this evening in order to put an end to the rocket attacks, according to the army.
The situation is worsening in Gaza, while columns of tanks enter the area in a major escalation of the offensive, Gaza continues facing heavy bombardment. After a relatively calm ‘humanitarian ceasefire’ that ended at 3pm today, Israel has killed ten Palestinians and has renewed the airstrikes all over the Strip.
Around 10 p.m. this evening the Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu announced the beginning of a ground invasion of Gaza that aims to destroy the rocket-launching infrastructure of the Palestinian resistance.
The Israeli media reported that Netanyahu granted authorization to the Israeli army to begin the ground operation tonight. They have also declared the northern and eastern borders of Israel with Gaza closed military zones where even journalists are banned.
The Israeli website Ynet reports that infantry, armored, engineering, artillery and intelligence troops are working in cooperation by sea and air, with the assistance of the Shin Bet and other security forces, and led by the Southern Command.
They continue saying that the Israeli Occupation Forces are planning to take over areas in the Strip and work to locate and destroy the bases of the Palestinian resistance in these areas. The army would have also prepared additional stages of operation, including getting all the way to the Gaza beach.
At the moment there is reports of clashes in Beit Lahya, north of Gaza, and in the east of Khan Younis, south of Gaza, between the Palestinian resistance and the Israeli army.
The latter is attacking by air and land, with military airplanes and tanks.
There are also reports of ongoing attacks east of Rafah, next to the destroyed airport, and of several serious injuries due to heavy shelling. Some sources report there might already be several casualties.
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php/politics/7818-latest-updates-on-the-israeli-ground-invasion-of-the-gaza-strip
