Shillong, October 20: Columns of Israeli tanks and thousands of soldiers are amassing on the Israel-Gaza border, raising concerns of an imminent invasion of the war-torn enclave.
As per IANS, tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers, along with numerous tanks and armored vehicles, are now positioned near the border, ready for a potential ground assault on the Gaza Strip. This situation unfolds as 203 hostages are held captive by Hamas in Gaza.
The increased military presence at the border follows reports of heavy machine gunfire along the border in the early hours of Friday morning, as per the Daily Mail.
Israel has continued its relentless stream of airstrikes on Gaza and has initiated the evacuation of a northern Israeli city near the Lebanese border, further indicating the possibility of a ground invasion that could have far-reaching consequences across the Middle East.
In Gaza, where two million Palestinians are trapped in the small enclave, they are preparing for a potential invasion that is expected to result in further significant casualties, according to the Daily Mail.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited troops positioned along the Gaza border and informed them that they would soon see the Palestinian enclave ‘from inside.’
An infantry commander in the IDF expressed readiness for invasion, noting a high level of optimism among the troops.
Israeli leaders are determined to remove Hamas from Gaza, even if it requires a potentially lengthy, house-to-house operation that may result in further casualties among Palestinians.