Netanyahu says that Israel is preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement broadcast on television on Wednesday that Israel is preparing for a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, but he declined to provide any details about the timing of the operation or any other information about it.

He added that the decision on when the forces will enter the Palestinian Strip, which is controlled by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), will be taken by the government’s special war cabinet, which includes the leader of one of the centrist opposition parties.

“We have already killed thousands of terrorists and this is just the beginning,” Netanyahu said.

“At the same time, we are preparing for a ground invasion. I’m not going to talk about when, how, or how many. I’m also not going to explain the various calculations we’re making, which the public mostly doesn’t know about, and that’s the way things should be.” “.

Israel carried out days of intense bombardment of the densely populated Gaza Strip following an October 7 Hamas attack on Israeli communities that killed about 1,400 people. More than 6,500 Palestinians were killed in the bombing, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

Netanyahu, who has not yet taken responsibility for the security failures that led to the Hamas attack, said that all those involved will be held accountable.

He added: “The scandal will be fully investigated.” “Everyone will have to give answers, and so will I. But all this will not happen until after the war.”

Earlier, the Wall Street Journal quoted American and Israeli officials as saying that Israel had agreed to postpone the invasion of Gaza for the time being, so that the United States could send missile defenses to the region.

Reuters reported on Monday that Washington has advised Israel to halt the ground offensive and is keeping Qatar – a mediator with Palestinian activists – informed of these talks as it tries to release more hostages and prepare for a broader regional war.

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