The Israeli army said on Thursday that it is preparing for a ground operation against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, but the country’s political leadership has not yet decided on it, the BBC’s Russian service reported.
“We are waiting to see what our political leadership decides on a possible ground offensive,” Army spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters. “The decision on that has not been made yet… But we are preparing for a ground maneuver if such a decision is made.”
The Israeli army has deployed tens of thousands of troops along the border with the Gaza Strip and is continuing an air campaign that the Israelis say is aimed at Hamas infrastructure, command and operations centers in the enclave.
Israel’s air campaign in the Gaza Strip has killed around 1,200 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
“We are preparing for the next phases of the war … to prepare for multiple operational contingency plans,” Hecht said.
According to him, the possible operation “could be carried out from the air or it could be combined from sea and air”.
Israel and Hamas traded more blows on Thursday, with AFP journalists witnessing several airstrikes targeting two Palestinian refugee camps in the Gaza Strip.
Israel has also imposed a complete blockade on the Palestinian territory, cutting off electricity, water and fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said earlier Thursday that supplies would not resume until Hamas militants freed all hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
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2023-10-12 15:36:00
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