A large contingent of Israeli ground forces entered the Gaza Strip last night for the first time since Operation Protective Edge began 10 days ago.
The government made the decision after efforts to reach a cease-fire with Hamas collapsed.
Palestinian sources reported heavy IDF artillery fire throughout the entire Gaza Strip. A Gaza resident told Haaretz, "They're firing from every direction, everything here is shaking."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ground operation's main goal will be to deal with the threat posed by the tunnels Hamas has dug along the Gaza-Israel border. The operation, he added, will continue until it has achieved its goals, restored quiet on the security front and dealt a severe blow to the capabilities of Hamas and other terrorist organizations in Gaza.
A statement issued by the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said that infantry, armored, engineering and artillery corps troops are participating in the operation, with assistance from the air force and the navy. The IDF plans to ask the cabinet to approve the call-up of additional reservists.
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Latest updates:
11:45 A.M. Israel "chose to embark on a ground incursion after having exhausted all other possibilities," says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a public statement made at the opening of a ministerial convention in Tel Aviv.
"We have no guarantee of one hundred percent success, but we are doing all we can to achieve the most," said Netanyahu, who said that the ground operation in Gaza will be expanded.
The operation's focus is on eliminating the threat presented by Hamas' tunnels, said the prime minister, who added that such a danger cannot be confronted using airpower alone.
"The IDF is a moral army like no other, said the PM. "Those responsible for the damage to uninvolved civilians are the Hamas, and Hamas alone, who use civilians as human shields." (Haaretz)
11:33 A.M. Thousands more Palestinians expected to flee homes in Strip, says speaker of UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. (Gili Cohen)
10:59 A.M. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge now stands at 260. Nearly 2,000 people have been wounded.
Bodies of nine men in their 20s and 30s found east of Khan Yunis. It is yet unclear if the men were uninvolved civilians or militants. (Jack Khouri)
10:57 A.M. Palestinian news agency Ma'an reports that news media offices in Gaza City bombed; one journalist wounded. (Haaretz)
10:40 A.M. IDF forces operating within the Gaza Strip have located, and are investigating, a number of suspected tunnels. (Gili Cohen)
10:22 A.M. Rocket alerts sound in Sderot, Gaza-bordering regions (Haaretz)
10:04 A.M. Rocket alerts sound across Ashdod, Ashkelon regions (Haaretz)
9:48 A.M. The IDF soldier killed in the Gaza Strip overnight is Eitan Barak, a 20-year-old sergeant from Herzliya. (Gili Cohen)
9:21 A.M. PM Netanyahu to make statement at 11 A.M. After that, Israeli ministers, security cabinet will convene in Tel Aviv (Barak Ravid)
8:52 A.M Three wounded IDF soldiers were hospitalized in Soroka Hospital overnight. One, in moderate condition, was hit by light fire in his neck and arm. Another was injured when a military vehicle overturned. The third is suffering head wounds due to mortar fire. (Shirley Seidler)
8:43 A.M. Rocket alerts sound in Gaza bordering regions. Iron Dome intercepts rocket fired at Ashdod. (Haaretz)
8:07 A.M. Rocket alerts sound in Be'er Sheva, Arad region, Northern Negev, Dimona area, Ashkelon. (Haaretz)
7:40 A.M. At least 11 Palestinians, including a number of children and a 64-year-old woman, have been killed in Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip since the start of the ground operation on Thursday night, according to reports from Gaza.
In addition, the heavy bombardment has prevented the transfer of wounded to hospital in several areas, according to the reports.
The Hamas armed wing announced that it was already conducting ambushes against Israel Defense Forces soldiers crossing the border. "We are ready and will teach the Israelis a lesson," the Izz a-Din al-Qassam Brigades said in a pamphlet.
Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said that the Israeli ground operation had torn the Egyptian cease-fire proposal to shreds. "This is not the time for diplomacy; this is the time for bullets and missiles," Zuhri said.
Haled Mashal, head of the Hamas political bureau, said on Thursday night that Hamas was ready for any eventuality. Mashal was speaking during a phone conversation with Ali Larijani, speaker of the Iranian parliament, who reiterated Iran's support for the Palestinian people.
The cease-fire efforts in Cairo are continuing, despite the Israeli ground operation. Egypt and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are continuing to call for an immediate cease-fire, after which the terms and conditions will be discussed, while Hamas is insisting on getting agreement on its terms before a cease-fire.
The Islamic Jihad is taking a more flexible stance, though they are staying in line with Hamas.
The diplomatic efforts are set to continue on Friday, according to senior Palestinian sources, with Abbas' representative, Fatah faction head Azzam al-Ahmad, meeting with Moussa Abu Marzouk of Hamas and an Islamic Jihad representative.
Abbas himself is due to fly to Turkey on Friday in an attempt to get the Turkish government to back the Egyptian cease-fire proposal. Some reports say the Mashal is also due in Turkey, but there is little expectation on the Palestinian side that the move will lead to a breakthrough, so long as the ground operation is in progress and the number of victims is growing. (Jack Khouri)
7:32 A.M. The IDF has struck over 100 targets in the Gaza Strip overnight, among them 20 rocket launchers and 9 tunnels, the IDF says.
The incursion began at around 10:00 P.M. on Thursday night, when a large number of Israeli soldiers crossed into the strip. There have been several exchanges of fire with Gaza militants, a senior IDF official told Haaretz.
According to the IDF, 14 militants were killed overnight. The majority of them were involved in rocket launches, and were struck by Israeli aircraft.
Since the land incursion began, over 20 rockets and mortars have been fired toward Israel, in addition to 16 others that were intercepted by Iron Dome. "The night passed largely as planned, but the major friction is expected to begin with daylight," said the officer. (Gili Cohen)
IDF artillery fire directed at northern Gaza targets. July 18, 2014 (Ilan Assayag)
7:27 A.M. Israeli soldier killed in fighting in northern Gaza Strip.
The soldier was apparently killed by light arms fire, during a Nahal brigade operation. The IDF is investigating whether friendly fire was involved in his death.
Two other soldiers were lightly wounded in the incident. This is the first Israeli military casualty since Operation Protective Edge was launched 10 days ago. (Gili Cohen)
7:05 A.M. Death toll in Gaza Strip from overnight IDF attacks rises to 20, Palestinian Health Ministry says. (Jack Khoury)
6:50 A.M. Two Israeli soldiers lightly wounded in fighting in Gaza Strip overnight. (Gili Cohen)
6:45 A.M. Home Front Command prohibits gatherings of over 1,000 people in open areas 40-80 kilometers from the Gaza Strip, a perimeter which includes Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. (Gili Cohen)
6:24 A.M. Speaking with reporters in Cairo, Abbas demanded Israel stop its offensive and said the ground operation would "lead to more bloodshed and complicate efforts to end the aggression", according to Egyptian State media. Abbas is set to travel to Turkey later on Friday to push for a deal, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. (Reuters, DPA)
Nine Palestinians were killed and more than 20 injured in Israel's artillery and tank shelling of the Strip overnight, Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra said, bringing the death toll since the Israeli operation began 10 days ago to 246 people, with 1,850 injured. Most of the victims were civilians, he said. (DPA)
Palestinians treat a wounded boy at the Shifa hospital in Gaza City. July 18, 2014 (AFP)
6:05 A.M. Palestinians fire anti-tank rocket at Israeli army bulldozer in southern Gaza Strip. The vehicle was damaged, but there were no casualties. (Gili Cohen)
5:52 A.M. In a phone conversation between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late on Thursday, Kerry said the U.S. expects the ground offensive in Gaza to be a precise operation targeting the Hamas tunnels from the Strip to Israel.
According to a statement from the State Department, "The Secretary emphasized the need to avoid further escalation and to restore the 2012 cease-fire as soon as possible, reinforced our continuing commitment to the Egyptian initiative as the way to do so, and underscored the importance of Hamas accepting this plan as soon as possible."
"The Secretary also reiterated our concern about the safety and security of civilians on both sides and the importance of doing everything possible to prevent civilian casualties," said the statement. (Chemi Shalev)
4:23 A.M. Gaza Strip residents say heavy clashes between Israeli and Palestinian forces took place along the border, including in the northern towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya. (Reuters)
IDF soldiers near the Gaza border. July 17, 2014 (Reuters)
3:52 A.M. Seven Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded from IDF artillery fire and air force strikes across the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian news agency Ma'an reports. Palestinian Health Ministry says reports that the IDF is using poison gas are false, and are meant to confuse civilians. (Haaretz)
2:47 A.M. Rocket siren sounded in Ashkelon. (Haaretz)
1:57 A.M. Iron Dome intercepts three rockets over Ashdod. Earlier, rocket sirens were sounded in Ashdod and in the Sdot Negev Regional Council. The IDF Southern Command believes that the rocket launches from the Gaza Strip at Israel will increase during the IDF ground operation. According to estimations in the IDF, Hamas is prepared for a ground incursion, and will utilize snipers, charges and anti-tank rockets, alongside underground activities. (Gili Cohen)
1:33 A.M. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry has denounced Israel´s operation in Gaza and again demanded that both sides accept a Cairo-proposed cease-fire.
1:26 A.M. Iron Dome intercepts four rockets above Ofakim in southern Israel. Three rockets explode in open areas. Earlier, rocket sirens were sounded in the Merhavim Regional Council (Gili Cohen, Shirly Seidler)
00:54 A.M. Israel Air Force strikes 11 targets in Gaza Strip. (Gili Cohen)
00:29 A.M. UN chief Ban Ki-moon says regrets Israeli ground offensive in Gaza, urges Israel to 'do more' to stop civilian casualties
France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius also says France is "extremely concerned" by the ground offensive, and called on Israel to show "utmost restraint." (DPA, Reuters)
00:15 A.M. Cabinet approves recruitment of 18,000 additional reserves. (Gili Cohen)
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