Palestinians inspect the remains of a mosque destroyed in Israeli strikes, as the conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas continues, in the northern Gaza Strip October 22, 2023.
Palestinian group Hamas said on Sunday its fighters had engaged an armoured force infiltrating a southern area of Gaza and destroyed some Israeli military equipment before returning to base.
These raids are raids that kill squads of terrorists who are preparing for the next stage in the war," he said, describing incursions that went "deep" into Gaza.
Stoking expectations of a full-scale ground offensive by Israeli forces massed around Gaza, he said the military's operational readiness was improving and being enhanced "all the time".
INCONCLUSIVE WARSSince cross-border attacks by Hamas on Israeli communities on Oct. 7 killed 1,400 people, Israel has amassed tanks and troops near the fenced border around Gaza for a planned ground invasion.
Persons:
Anas, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, Izz el, Deen al, Khan Younis, Dan Williams, Nidal al, Edmund Blair, Timothy
Organizations:
Hamas, REUTERS, Sunday, Brigades, Israel, Palestinian, Timothy Heritage, Thomson
Locations:
Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Gaza Hamas, JERUSALEM, GAZA, Russian