– In recent hours, we have increased the attacks in Gaza. The air force attacks many underground targets and terrorist infrastructure, which is very significant. In continuation of the offensive activity we have carried out in recent days, the ground forces are expanding their ground activity this evening. The IDF works vigorously in all dimensions to achieve the war’s goals. That’s what Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israeli army (IDF), writes on X. The Israeli army’s (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari. Here from a press conference on 18 October 2023. Photo: AFP At the same time, the IDF is asking again for residents of Gaza City to evacuate to the south of the Gaza Strip. It is currently unclear what an expansion of the ground forces’ operation means. The IDF says it is prepared to maintain Israel’s security on all fronts, and to retrieve all the hostages Hamas took when they invaded Israel on October 7. Since Hamas captured Israel on October 7, experts have been waiting for Israel to launch a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. Hamas has not yet commented on the latest statement to the IDF. Air strikes from both sides Intense Israeli air strikes against northern Gaza are ongoing, AFP’s live images show. In addition, Hamas is said to have fired rockets at Israel on Friday evening, according to AFP. Earlier on Friday evening, Al Jazeera reported that many parts of the Gaza Strip have lost the ability to communicate with the outside world. The channel only has occasional contact with its correspondents. At the same time, NetBlocks reports a collapse in the network connection in the Gaza Strip. The AFP news agency’s live images show intense Israeli airstrikes against northern parts of the Gaza Strip. According to Al Jazeera, the ongoing airstrikes are unprecedented. The IDF says it is carrying out continuous strikes against Hamas targets in the besieged Palestinian enclave. – We will continue to strike in and around Gaza City and around, said IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari according to AFP. Several of the buildings in the Gaza Strip have already been razed to the ground. Photo: AP AFP: Hamas fires at Israel At the same time, Palestinian rocket attacks against Israel are reported. Hamas says it fired a number of rockets at Israel late Friday, according to AFP. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the bomb alarm should have gone off in southern and central Israel. It included, among other things, the cities of Ramat Gan, Or Yehuda, Rishon LeZion, Holon, Ashdod and Ashkelon. One person was reported moderately wounded in the town of Rishon LeZion. Israel accuses Hamas of waging war from hospitals On Thursday and Friday, the Israeli army accused Hamas of having established command centers in and under hospitals in the Gaza Strip. “Hamas has turned hospitals into command and control centers and hideouts for terrorists and their leaders,” said IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari. During a press conference on Friday, Hagari showed photographs, drawings and audio recordings that were supposed to support the accusation that Hamas is particularly using the Shifa hospital in Gaza City. – The Hamas terrorists operate inside and under the Shifa hospital and other hospitals in Gaza, Hagari said. It has been busy at the Shifa hospital in Gaza City in recent weeks. Photo: AFP The Israeli army’s accusations cannot be verified. In both this and previous wars, Israel has received international criticism for attacking hospitals and schools in the Gaza Strip, and the claim that they are being used by Hamas is old. The accusation is rejected by Hamas A spokesman for the Hamas movement’s political leadership, Ezzat El-Reshiq, rejects the accusation. – What the spokesman for the enemy’s army claims is without root in reality, he writes on Telegram. The spokesman further accuses Israel of spreading lies to prepare “a new massacre against our people”. During a press conference at the Shifa hospital on Friday evening, the head of the Hamas government’s press office in Gaza also rejected the accusation from Israel. – Israel uses technology to fabricate sound recordings, said Salama Marouf. According to Marouf, there is no evidence that Hamas has made tunnels and established command centers under the hospital where thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge.
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Intense Israeli airstrikes against the Gaza Strip while the internet and phone lines are down, reports AFP – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
