Sharjah24 - AFP: The Israeli army stated in a statement on Thursday that Israeli tanks took part in a "targeted raid" overnight in northern Gaza as it readied its forces for a ground assault.
"Overnight, the IDF conducted a targeted raid using tanks in the northern Gaza Strip, as part of preparations for the next stages of combat," the army said.
"The soldiers exited the area at the end of the activity."
Late Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that along with the heavy bombing campaign of Hamas-controlled Gaza, "we are preparing for a ground offensive".
On October 7, throngs of Hamas gunmen poured from Gaza into Israel, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 222 more, according to Israeli officials.
More than 6,500 Gazans already have died in Israel's aerial assault, according to figures released by the Hamas-controlled health ministry in the territory.
According to the Israeli military, during the overnight raid, "soldiers located and struck numerous terrorists, terror infrastructure and anti-tank missile launch posts, and operated to prepare the battlefield".
A spokesman for the military confirmed to AFP this was not the first time Israeli soldiers and tanks had entered Gaza for limited incursions since October 7.
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