The Israeli military said Thursday it is about to begin a ground operation in the Gaza Strip, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials predicted a difficult and long battle with the Palestinian resistance.
The Israeli military spokesman told a news conference in Tel Aviv that tens of thousands of troops were ready to begin ground entry into Gaza.
The military spokesman added that the army had confirmed information about 203 Israelis detained in Gaza and about 100 missing.
He added that there was no aid entry into Gaza so far, and that the army would announce that it would be allowed into the Strip when the political leadership made a decision to do so.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant told his soldiers on the Gaza border: "You see Gaza now from afar, and soon you will see it from the inside. The order will be issued," he said, referring to the imminent Israeli ground offensive.
Gallant added that the potential battle for territory would be long and difficult.
Shortly after the defense minister's statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video showing him with troops near the border and promising them victory.
Netanyahu told a news conference with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that the war on Gaza would be prolonged.
Israeli Defense Minister addresses his soldiers massed near the border with the Gaza Strip (Anatolia)
Green Light
Meanwhile, the American network "ABC" quoted an Israeli official as saying that the Israeli army has received the green light from the Israeli government to move towards Gaza.
Yaron Winkelman, commander of the IDF's Southern Brigade, said his forces were fighting a war against what he called a "fierce enemy," a reference to Palestinian resistance.
Finkelman added that the maneuver will now be transferred to enemy territory despite the difficult situation, and that his forces will win, as he put it.
The Israel Broadcasting Corporation reported on Wednesday evening that the Israeli army is preparing to move by land in the Gaza Strip, after US President Joe Biden left Tel Aviv on Wednesday at the end of a visit in which he renewed his country's support for Israel.
In return for Israeli statements, the Palestinian resistance confirmed that it is ready for a long battle, and that it will turn the sands of Gaza into a cemetery for the Israeli occupation forces.
Despite repeated statements that the ground operation was imminent, Israel is reportedly reluctant to enter the Gaza Strip for fear of a setback after the blow it received when the Palestinian resistance launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7.