A wave of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza this morning and announcements of further military action have sparked cable news reports that a ground invasion of Hamas-held territory may finally begin.
“It’s clear that something is happening tonight,” Fox News’ Trey Yingst said of the Gaza border just before 10 p.m. local time. “We don’t want to speculate on it or call it what it might be because we have to wait and be patient, but it’s unlike any other night we’ve talked about. We were here the whole time. “In the last 21 days,” the correspondent added, describing himself as coming under “heavy fire” as tanks drove up behind him and gunfire exploded.
“We have no confirmation of what exactly is happening on the ground,” CNN’s Anderson Cooper told viewers live from Israel on Friday, as the night also lit up behind him. “We just don’t know,” the BBC said as Israeli ground forces’ so-called “limited operations” began.
“We are increasing the pressure on Hamas,” Mark Regev of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s West Bank office in Jerusalem told Fox’s Martha Bowes MacCallum in an interview. “Of course I cannot be more specific at this stage, but Hamas now feels the power of Israel.” A few minutes later, Regev appeared on MSNBC and called today’s operation “payback” for Hamas’ shocking and murderous offensive in Israel nearly three weeks ago.
From the White House, John Kirby of the National Security Council said the Biden administration “will not get used to intervening from the sidelines.” In another sign of the administration’s strong support for the Jewish state, Kirby added: “The US will not draw red lines against Israel.” Jordan’s foreign minister said on Friday a “humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions” is one of the consequences of the invasion 300,000 Israeli troops will be in the Gaza Strip led by Hamas.
This morning, spokesperson Brig. gen. Daniel Hagari said bluntly at a press conference: “Ground forces are expanding their operations tonight.” He explained that the airstrikes were targeting “terrorist infrastructure”, adding that the capture of more than 200 hostages by Hamas and rumors of their widespread release was a form of “psychological terror”. Brigadier General Hagari also said that talks about the hostages are still ongoing. “This is an extensive ground attack,” he also said of the troop movements.
CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and BBC World News all went live with Hagari’s comments as part of their ongoing coverage of the conflict. After the broadcasters intervened several times with special reports since Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7, they stuck to their regular program on Friday.
The terror attack on the Jewish state left more than 1,400 dead and hundreds captured in the worst attack on Jews since World War II. In the weeks since October 7, Israeli airstrikes have killed thousands and forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate.
Live from Israel, CNN’s Nic Robertson said that this “could be an indication that troops are currently engaged in a bit of a firefight on the ground in Gaza.” The network’s international diplomatic editor added: “We can’t define it, “We can’t know for sure … it’s all an indication of what the IDF has been talking about, of using more force, of the extension of the raids already underway.” of the last few nights.”
“Israeli forces are moving here along the Gaza border,” Fox News’ Yingst noted, also on Rupert Murdoch’s channel, as artillery blasts and trucks could be heard in the background. “It’s getting louder as they move up the ridge behind us … it’s an indication that these forces are approaching the border … for limited attacks.”
Although there was nothing official, events moved very quickly. Cellphone services and online communications are reportedly down in Gaza. Fox’s Yingst noted that now only those in Gaza City with “foreign SIM cards” can make phone calls.
“We’re seeing an intensification of the use of explosives across and in Gaza, more so than in recent days,” CNN’s Jake Tapper said a few hours ago late at night in Tel Aviv, with Cooper at his side. “The IDF, the Israel Defense Forces, has not commented on what appears to be a definite increase in military activity. They do not comment on whether there has been an official expansion of their operations against Hamas.”
Fox’s Yingst said earlier Friday: “The sun went down a few hours ago and the Israelis increased their airstrikes over the Gaza Strip … huge explosions behind us … Israeli warplanes roaring overhead.” Vingst wore a helmet and jacket and referred to the IDF’s “limited ground attacks” in the past 48 hours. Of today’s air action, he added: “However, it is significant tonight because we have had no bombing in any form like what we see happening here in southern Israel.”
Source: Deadline
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
