Israeli Defense Minister claims troops reach heart of Gaza City

Jerusalem/ Tel Aviv, Nov 8: Israeli ground forces were “in the heart of Gaza City”, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said. “We are in the heart of Gaza City,” Gallant told a press conference on Tuesday, adding the conflict “cannot be stopped” until Gaza’s Hamas rulers were “eliminated”.
He also added that after the conflict ended, Israel would maintain security control over Gaza to monitor and act against security threats and to “thwart anyone who might harm us”.
On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, firing thousands of rockets and infiltrating Israeli territory, while Israel responded with airstrikes, ground operations and punitive measures that included a siege on the Gaza Strip, Xinhua news agency reported.
The Israel-Hamas conflict has so far killed 10,328 Palestinians in Gaza.
On the Israeli side, more than 1,400 people lost their lives, the vast majority in the Hamas military attacks on Israel on October 7.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have in a statement also said that it has entered Gaza city and a fierce fight is continuing with the Hamas terrorists.
The Prime Minister’s Office has also confirmed that the IDF has entered Gaza city. The Israeli Army has asked the civilian population in Gaza city to relocate to southern Gaza to avoid civilian casualties and has opened the road to southern strip for a few hours on Monday and Tuesday.
The IDF said that 8,00,000 people have already moved southward.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the IDF is tightening the noose over Hamas and that the Army has destroyed several Hamas centres and rocket launching pads.
He added that IDF destroyed several Hamas tunnels and eliminated many terrorists within these spiralling tunnels.
Netanyahu while visiting the Tzelem base told the Israeli soldiers that they were saving the nation.
The Prime Minister also warned the Hezbollah that if they attack Israel, the response would be much more than what was expected. (IANS)