Tag Archive for: Gaza conflict

‘The Ground Shook In Gaza’: Israel’s Defense Minister Announces ‘Next Stage’ In War Against Hamas

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Israel’s defense minister announced on Saturday that the war against Hamas has entered a “new stage” following expanded ground operations that were launched against Gaza beginning on Friday.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in televised remarks that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had expanded ground operations against Gaza by sending in tanks and infantry backed by large strikes from the air and sea, according to The Associated Press.  However, an IDF spokesperson told ABC News on Friday that the expanded ground operations were not the anticipated full-on military invasion of Gaza.

“We moved to the next stage in the war,” Gallant said. “Last evening, the ground shook in Gaza. We attacked above ground and underground…The instructions to the forces are clear. The campaign will continue until further notice.”

Gallant said on Friday that he anticipated that a ground invasion into Gaza would be difficult, and that the ground invasion would begin soon, according to the AP. “It will take a long time” to destroy Hamas’ wide-ranging network of tunnels, Gallant said.

Gaza residents described Friday’s bombardments as the most intense of the three-week old war, according to the AP. These Israeli strikes knocked out most communications in Gaza, while also targeting several of Hamas’ tunnels and underground bunkers, according to the AP.

The IDF on Saturday released images of Israeli tanks entering open ground in Gaza, which appeared to be near the Israeli-Gaza border. “We are conducting out sweep and clear activities in order to create better conditions for optimal operation conditions on the ground, IDF spokesperson Peter Lerner told ABC News on Friday.

The Israeli strikes on Friday knocked out internet connections in Gaza and caused the largest outage of the war so far, according to The Washington Post. “We are beefing up pressure on Hamas. We’re increasing pressure that they’re under,” Mark Regev, an advisor to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News on Friday. “Our military operations are underway,” Regev added.

Israel’s military operations against Gaza are in response to Hamas’ terrorist attack against Israel that began on Oct.7 and led to the deaths of over 1,400 Israelis, and the capturing of over 200 hostages, four of whom have since been released by Hamas.

AUTHOR

RYAN MEILSTRUP

Associate editor.

RELATED ARTICLE: ‘Payback’: Israel Expands Ground Operations Against Hamas, Official Says

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All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

Hamas Fighters Were Promised $10,000 And An Apartment For Taking A Hostage, Captured Terrorist Tells Israelis

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A captured Hamas terrorist told Israeli interrogators the terrorists were promised $10,000 and an apartment for taking hostages, The Jerusalem Post reported Monday.

“[W]hoever brings a hostage back [to Gaza] gets $10,000 and an apartment,” one captured Hamas fighter who stormed Israel on Oct. 7 told his interrogators, the outlet reported.

Israeli intelligence announced their interrogations resulted in a number of similar themes. While Hamas commanders remained in Gaza, all Hamas agents who breached Israel’s borders Oct. 7 were given instructions to kill and kidnap Israelis, The Jerusalem Post reported.

When it came to killing Israelis, the agents were reportedly told not to distinguish between civilians and soldiers. When the Hamas terrorists were pressed on whether Islam permitted the acts they carried out, they responded, “No. Islam does not permit the killing of women and children,” The Jerusalem Post noted.

Money given to terrorists for violent acts is not a new phenomena in the region. The Palestinian Authority, led by Hamas’ rival Fatah, has a “pay to slay” policy, where money is given to any terrorist (or their families) when they participate in terror attacks against Israelis.

Hamas’ invasion into southern Israel was also fueled by Hamas agents reportedly taking drugs to help enhance their combat performance. Israeli war aims following the invasion are reportedly the ousting of Hamas from power in the Gaza Strip and “the creation of a new security regime” in Gaza.

AUTHOR

ILAN HULKOWER

Contributor.

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EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Caller column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

‘Totally Inappropriate’: Trump Rips Biden For Sending $100 Million In Aid To Gaza

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Former President Donald Trump blasted President Joe Biden Wednesday for sending $100 million in humanitarian aid to Palestinians, calling the move “totally inappropriate.”

Biden announced the aid Wednesday, just days after the United Nations Relief and Works Agency posted on X that Hamas stole fuel and other relief supplies. Hamas attacked multiple locations in southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing over 1,400 people and taking over 200 hostages.

WATCH:

“This is being led by Iran and you would have never seen this happen. You wouldn’t have seen Ukraine happen either,” Trump said during a break in his civil trial on allegations of fraud.

“You had something about the fact that Biden is sending $100 million to the Palestinians?” Trump asked a reporter.

Israel urged residents of Gaza to evacuate Friday, citing the potential for ground operations against Hamas. People were reportedly killed when a rocket fired by Islamic Jihad hit a hospital in Gaza, according to assessments by U.S. intelligence, even as many media outlets initially echoed claims by Hamas that Israel was responsible.

“I think right now, it’s totally inappropriate. It’s so inappropriate to be doing that right now,” Trump said. “He’s over in Israel and he’s giving money to the Palestinians. I think it’s very inappropriate.”

Biden also received criticism for making concessions to Iran, including arranging for the release of $6 billion held by South Korea for humanitarian aid in exchange for Iran freeing five Americans it held prisoner.

AUTHOR

HAROLD HUTCHISON

Reporter.

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EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Caller column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.