Israel starts ground offensive in Gaza
The Israeli military has begun a ground offensive against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
View of an explosion following an Israeli strike in Gaza City pic.twitter.com/1Rr5aEvSUt
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) July 17, 2014
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they were extending their 10-day-old Operation Protective Edge.
After ten days of cross border war, Israeli PM Netanyahu orders ground offensive in #Gaza: http://t.co/p4V2eaKnYG pic.twitter.com/EL1SfR98Ca
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) July 17, 2014
They said it was in response to continued militant rocket fire and to strike a "significant blow to Hamas", which controls Gaza.
Hamas spokesman: Israel "will pay a heavy price" for ground operation in Gaza. http://t.co/YlNjJV77ei
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) July 17, 2014
There was a five-hour humanitarian truce on Thursday but exchanges of fire resumed when it ended.
Some 230 Palestinians and one Israeli have died during the Operation Protective Edge period.
Tunnels
In a statement, the IDF said: "Following 10 days of Hamas attacks by land, air and sea, and after repeated rejections of offers to de-escalate the situation, the IDF has initiated a ground operation within the Gaza Strip."
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