Israel expanded its military operations in Gaza in the “second stage” of what will be a “long and difficult” war with Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Saturday.
The stepped-up offensive includes heavy bombardments that cut off communications and internet connections in the Gaza Strip, as military officials suggested an anticipated ground assault against the Hamas militants was starting.
This is “only the beginning” of the next phase of war, Netanyahu told a press conference in Tel Aviv Saturday evening. “We are determined to complete this mission,” he said.
“We moved to the next stage in the war,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said earlier Saturday. “Last evening, the ground shook in Gaza. We attacked above ground and underground,” he added. “The instructions to the forces are clear. The campaign will continue until further notice,” Gallant said.
Netanyahu said the stepped-up offensive operations would not impede efforts to bring home hostages taken by Hamas in its October 7 attack on Israel. He reiterated a call by the Israel Defense Forces for residents to evacuate northern Gaza.
Aid groups and civil society organizations said they have lost touch with staff and families in the Gaza Strip as a result of the connection outages.
“Last night, the ground forces entered and continued expanding the ground force operations. Infantry, engineering and artillery are accompanied by heavy gunfire,” IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Saturday. Senior Hamas officials, including the head of the militant group’s aerial operations, were killed, he said.
“Overnight, IDF fighter jets struck Asem Abu Rakaba, the head of Hamas’ Aerial Array. Abu Rakaba was responsible for Hamas’ UAVs, drones, paragliders, aerial detection and defense,” the IDF said on social media. Abu Rakaba took part in planning the October 7 attack by Hamas militants on Israel and “was responsible for the drone attacks on IDF posts,” the IDF said.
Israel’s expanded military moves heightened fears over a widely anticipated ground invasion of Gaza. Residents in the enclave have already suffered large losses from air strikes and targeted raids.
The head of the World Health Organization said on Saturday that “reports of intense bombardment in Gaza are extremely distressing,” adding that “evacuation of patients is not possible under such circumstances, nor to find safe shelter.”
“The blackout is also making it impossible for ambulances to reach the injured. We are still out of touch with our staff and health facilities. I’m worried about their safety,” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement. He appealed to “all those who have the power to push for a cease-fire to act NOW.”
Elon Musk said on Saturday that Starlink would offer connectivity to “internationally recognized” aid groups in Gaza amid the communications blackout.
The families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip were worried about what the stepped-up military operations meant for their loved ones. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said no one had explained “whether the ground operation endangers the well-being of the 229 hostages” in Gaza.
“We are committed to do everything to bring them home,” Prime Minister Netanyahu told reporters Saturday night. “We are all united in their pain,” he added. Defense Minister Gallant said he would meet with representatives of the group on Sunday.
Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist group by Israel, the EU and other powers, has so far released four hostages following mediation by Qatar and Egypt.
In addition to taking the hostages during the October 7 attack on southern Israel, the Hamas militants also killed more than 1,400 people. Israel has retaliated with daily airstrikes on the blockaded Palestinian enclave, killing an estimated 7,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health.
Western countries have generally supported Israel’s right to self-defense, but there has been mounting international concern over the toll from the Israeli bombardments and growing calls for a pause to allow aid to reach the people of Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators rallied in cities in Europe, the Middle East and Asia on Saturday to show support for the Palestinians. In one of the biggest marches, in London, aerial footage showed large crowds marching through the city to demand the government of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak call for a cease-fire.
The U.N. General Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities.” The Israeli government dismissed the resolution, saying Israel will continue to defend itself. “Israel will do what must be done to eradicate Hamas’ capabilities,” said Gilad Erdan, the Israeli ambassador to the U.N.
EU leaders on Thursday called for “pauses for humanitarian needs” to allow aid into Gaza, with European Council President Charles Michel welcoming the “strong unity” among the bloc’s governments.
