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Israeli army awaiting ‘political’ green light for Gaza invasion: Spokesmen

IDF declares restricted area up to 4 kilometers from border with Lebanon, jams GPS

Hamas has an elaborate network of tunnels both for defensive and offensive purposes, Lt. Col. Jonathan

GAZA + TEL AVIV  (  Web  News )
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday it was “isolating” the area of up to 4 kilometers from the border with Lebanon, banning civilians from entry to the area amid exchange of fire between Israeli forces and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

“The IDF stresses that entering the area is strictly prohibited and asks the public to be vigilant and not enter the area,” the IDF said as cited by the Times of Israel.

Additionally, residents living in communities up to 2 kilometers from the Lebanon border were ordered to remain close to bomb shelters until further notice.

The IDF also stated that it was jamming GPS services in the area.

This comes following repeated attacks by Hezbollah targeting Israeli locations.

The Israeli army is awaiting a “political decision” on the timing of a major ground offensive on the Gaza Strip, military spokesmen said Sunday as civilians stepped up desperate efforts to flee northern Gaza.

Israel has told 1.1 million people in northern Gaza to leave for the south of the territory and thousands were still using safe routes designated by Israel to seek safety on Sunday.

Israel has faced pressure from the United Nations and its allies to hold back on any invasion until civilians have been given every chance to leave. The military has not said when the safe passage windows will close.

Military spokesmen Lieutenant Richard Hecht and Daniel Hagari told separate briefings on Sunday that “a political decision” will set off any action against Hamas after its October 7 attacks that left at least 1,300 dead in Israel.

“We will be holding discussions with our political leadership,” Hecht told one briefing.

Israel has massed tens of thousands of troops around Gaza and officials say that all necessary military supplies have been carried out. Thousands of air raids have been staged in Gaza since the October 7 attacks, claiming more than 2,300 lives in the densely populated territory.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops near the Gaza border on Saturday that “more is coming.” But he did not say when any ground operation would start. Netanyahu has been holding regular security meetings with key ministers and military leaders.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant discussed the evacuation of Gaza civilians and “humanitarian issues” in talks with US senators today, his department said.

Gallant stressed “Israel’s military power and our determination to destroy the enemy.”

Military spokesmen have told reporters that any invasion would aim to eradicate Hamas’ militant network and leadership so that it cannot stage more attacks.

The Israeli military has particularly singled out Yahya Sinwar, the chief of Hamas in Gaza they blame for the October 7 attacks. “That man is in our sights,” Hecht said on Saturday. “He is a dead man walking and we will get to that man.”

Hamas has an elaborate network of tunnels both for defensive and offensive purposes, Lt. Col. Jonathan

The hostages taken by Palestinian militant group Hamas are “most likely” being held underground in Gaza, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces said on Sunday.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus told CNN that given Hamas’ “elaborate network of tunnels”, the hostages are “most likely held underground in various locations.”

Conricus said: “It is extremely difficult for any modern military to fight in such a dense urban area. We know that Hamas has an elaborate network of tunnels both for defensive and offensive purposes, which will for sure, compound the complexity of fighting and we are prepared for that.”

He added: “Fighting will be slow. Advances will be slow, and we will be cautious, but we are very determined to get to the Hamas terrorists that currently are hiding underneath our civilians in the tunnel system that they have.”

The Israeli official said the IDF will not target civilians, but stressed: “But again, we must remember… we are going to fight a ruthless enemy that has no problems using everything available… civilians as human shields and using civilian infrastructure for military purposes.”

Israel has pledged to wipe out Hamas in retaliation for the militant group’s unprecedented incursion into Israeli towns backed up with a barrage of rockets. Israel responded to the surprise attack with a total siege around the Gaza Strip and bombarded the enclave with an unparalleled barrage of air strikes. Thousands have died and scores more were injured among Palestinians and Israelis.

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