Israel defence minister says troops will soon see Gaza ‘from inside’, as expectations grow for ground invasion to destroy Hamas
- Israel’s defence minister ordered ground troops to be ready to invade Gaza, though he didn’t say when
- Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, which staged a brutal attack on October 7 that killed 1,400 Israelis
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Israel defence minister says troops to see Gaza ‘from inside’ soon, hinting at ground invasion
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told troops gathered at the Gaza border on Thursday that they would soon see the Palestinian enclave “from inside”, suggesting an expected ground invasion with the aim of annihilating Hamas could be nearing.
“You see Gaza now from a distance, you will soon see it from inside. The command will come,” Gallant told soldiers.
Shortly after the minister’s statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a video of himself with troops near the border promising victory.
“All the indications are that the worst is coming,” Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told reporters in Amman.
Israel pounded Gaza with more air strikes on Thursday over the October 7 rampage by Hamas gunmen who killed 1,400 Israelis.
