Israel has expanded its ground offensive to the whole of the Gaza enclave, including the Khan Younis in the south, said reports. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) also released a statement promising to strike any threat posed against Israeli territory.
"The IDF is resuming and expanding the ground operation against Hamas’ strongholds across the whole Gaza Strip," IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari told a news conference. "Our policy is clear — we will forcefully strike any threat posed against our territory."
The IDF Arabic-language spokesman, Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee also released a picture threatened Hamas’s Shejaiya battalion. "This is a final notice. You are all targets," Adraee said, attaching a picture of the commanders of the Shejaiya battalion.
"You have two options: surrender and lay down your weapons, or face a fate similar to that of Wissam Farhat," Adraee added, referring to the Shejaiya battalion commander, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike Saturday.
This was followed up with a post asking Gazans to evacuate about 20 areas or blocks in the Gaza Strip, with three arrows on the map all pointing south, indicating where people should go. Though Israel claims it is defining "safe areas" to minimise civilian casualties, people in the Palestinian enclave claim it is difficult to heed these orders due to unstable internet access.
The IDF added that it hit over 200 Hamas targets overnight in Gaza. A statement added that IDF's Negev Brigade destroyed Hamas "infrastructure" inside a school in northern Gaza’s Beit Hanoun, which was used by operatives to attack troops. The troops reportedly found two tunnel entrances, including one that was booby-trapped, inside the school complex. Cars ferrying missiles and mortars for Hamas operatives, an anti-tank missile launch position, a group of Hamas operatives and a nearby weapons depot were also struck by IDF jets.
Meanwhile, a senior delegation of Biden administration officials will arrive in Israel on Monday for meetings with Israeli counterparts to discuss planning for post-war Gaza, the White House says.
US Vice President Kamala Harris's national security adviser Phil Gordon will lead the delegation. He will be joined by Ilan Goldenberg, Harris’s Mideast adviser. Israel is yet to reveal any plans it has for Gaza after the ground invasion while the US is pushing for an international force to help temporarily manage Gaza after the war.