Hamas claims to be repelling ground assault IDF: Israel announces third phase of operation

Israel expands ground operation in Gaza Strip / Illustrative collage 24 Channel

Israel continues to develop its operation to destroy Hamas militants. Meanwhile, they claim to be repelling an IDF ground assault.

Thus, on the morning of Tuesday, October 31, Hamas militants announced that they had fired anti-tank missiles at Israeli troops. At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected calls to stop the fighting, which is worsening the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.

The militants appeared to be engaged in battle with the IDF

On Monday, it was reported that Israeli troops were targeting Gaza's main north-south road and were also attacking Gaza City from two directions. Israel also said it was able to free a soldier from Hamas captivity, one of the 239 hostages taken on October 7.

Meanwhile, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said they engaged Israeli forces on Tuesday morning, “invading the southern axis of Gaza, (including) with machine guns and firing Al-Yassin 105 rockets at four vehicles “We are talking about locally produced anti-tank missiles. The militants also said that they fired missiles at two Israeli tanks and bulldozers in north-west Gaza.

Israel expands ground operations

IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari noted during a briefing on the evening of October 30 that the Israeli army continues to expand its ground operation in the Gaza Strip. Additional forces of infantry, armored vehicles and combat engineering are deployed to Gaza to continue coordinated operations on land, air and sea.

He noted that over the past 24 hours, dozens of terrorists had been eliminated. According to him, the military plan is being implemented as intended and will continue in accordance with the objectives.

In the north, earlier today (October 30 – Channel 24), we dismantled a terrorist cell that attempted to target Israel in the Rosh Hanikra area. The IDF attacked various Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure sites in response to rocket attacks on Israel, he noted.

According to Hagari, IDF troops continue to deploy along the northern border in very high readiness. The military is targeting anyone who shoots or tries to enter Israeli territory.

Let's return to the Israeli soldier who was released from captivity. We are talking about private Ora Megidish, who was rescued during a night operation. According to the IDF and security services, the soldier is in good condition and has already met with her family. Note that Megidish was a soldier observer who was taken hostage by Hamas when terrorists stormed the Nahal Oz base on October 7.

Let us pay attention to the words of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. He noted that the military operation had entered the third phase. It includes expanding ground operations in the enclave.