Israel 'to unleash ground war in 48 hours'

Forces say they have retaken land near Gaza but reports of more kidnaps

- Martin Bentham

ISRAEL was today said to be preparing for a major ground offensive against Hamas as fighting continued inside the country for a third day and new hostages were reported to have been taken.

The Israeli military, which had earlier said it was battling militants at eight locations inside Israel, said it had regained control of all communities near the Gaza Strip border.

It announced that it had carried out raids on targets across the Gaza Strip overnight, while US officials said thousands of Israeli soldiers were reported to be getting ready to launch a ground assault within the “next 48 hours” to destroy Hamas fighters and infrastructure in Gaza.

But as rockets hit southern Israel and were fired towards Jerusalem, the Israeli military admitted that it was still fighting remaining Hamas militants inside the country and trying to seal the border to stop more entering. It came as:

⬤ The death toll from the conflict passed 1,100.

⬤ Israel said it had called up 300,000 reservists to prepare for a coming onslaught against Hamas in its largest ever mobilisation.

⬤ It also announced a “total blockade” of the Gaza Strip with “no electricity, no fuel, no food” allowed in.

⬤ Special flights were organised by Israel to bring reservists abroad back to join its war effort.

⬤ Volunteers trying to recover bodies from the Supernova music festival, where 260 were killed, had to halt their efforts after coming under militant fire.

⬤ Prime Minister Rishi Sunak prepared to chair a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee to discuss the crisis.