Israeli troops began moving into Gaza on Saturday night, Israel Defense Forces said.
“We have just a short while ago launched the second stage of the operation against Hamas infrastructure,” IDF spokeswoman Maj. Avital Leibovich told CNN.
Earlier, the Israelis used ground artillery for the first time in the eight-day-old conflict when Israeli tanks fired shells into Gaza from the northern and eastern borders.
Troops had been massed along the border since the IDF began its bombardment of the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory December 27.
Leaflets signed by the commander of the Israeli military were dropped over northern Gaza on Saturday morning, warning residents to “leave the area immediately” to ensure their safety.
“Due to the terrorist actions undertaken by terrorist elements from the region of your residences against the state of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces are compelled to respond immediately in the region of your residences. For your safety, you are ordered to leave the area immediately,” the leaflets said.
Source: CNN/Associated Press
Filed under: MidEast, Breaking News, Gaza raids, Hamas, Headlines, IDF, Israel, News, The Terror Journal, World News
Expected.