Prior to a ground invasion, Israel will step up its bombardment of Gaza

 Prior to a ground invasion, Israel will step up its bombardment of Gaza

Israel has said it would increase its aircraft attacks in the beleaguered Palestinian enclave to provide the "best conditions" for soldiers to march in as a ground invasion by Israel in Gaza looms large.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), indicated Israel's preparations for the second phase of its announced three-phase operation to alter the security regime in Gaza, saying, "We have to enter the next phase of the war in the very best conditions, not according to what any individual tells us."

R Adm Hagari gave reporters the unmistakable indication of an impending ground assault on Saturday when he said, "Starting today, we are increasing the strikes and minimizing the danger."

Herzi Halevi, chief of staff of the IDF, warned commanders of the elite Golani infantry division earlier on Saturday that they should expect surprises from terrorist organizations when they enter the Gaza Strip. This was another blatant sign that Israel was getting ready for the second phase of its three-phase operation aimed at overhauling the "security regime" in Gaza.

"We're going to the Gaza Strip. Halevi informed the commanders, "We will start an operational and professional expedition to eliminate the Hamas agents and the Hamas infrastructure, and we will also bear in mind the pictures, the sights, and the dead from Shabbat (Saturday) two weeks ago.

He was alluding to the most recent battle, which started when Hamas terrorists launched massive strikes on Israel on October 7 that left around 1,400 people dead. The huge counteroffensive against the Islamic terrorist Hamas that has controlled Gaza since 2007 has been begun by Israel.

"Gaza is complex, Gaza is dense, why the terrorists is preparing a lot of things there, nevertheless we are preparing things for them as well," the head of the IDF said.

Yoav Gallant, Israel's defense minister, described Israel's three-stage plan to alter the "security regime" in Gaza earlier this week, meaning the ouster of Hamas.

When it started conducting aerial attacks, the IDF was in the initial phase of the plan. Following that will come a ground invasion, and then, according to Gallant, Gaza's security system will be changed.

For the ground operation, Israel has gathered tens of thousands of soldiers.

In the terrible terrorist assault carried out by the Palestinian militant organization in the southern region of the Jewish state, more than 1,400 people were murdered in Israel, and at least 210 individuals were captured; according to official estimates, this figure is expected to rise.

According to reports, the Israeli onslaught that followed resulted in the deaths of 4,385 Palestinians in Gaza.