Heavy machine gun fire was heard along the Israel-Gaza border in the early hours of Friday, after the green light was given for a ground invasion.
Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defense minister, on Thursday visited troops positioned along the Gaza border, and told them that they would soon see the Palestinian enclave ‘from inside’.
An infantry commander in the IDF told DailyMail.com on Thursday that they were ready to invade, adding there was ‘a very high level of optimism’ among his troops.
Israel’s leaders are determined to rid Gaza of its Hamas rulers, even if that means going house-to-house in an operation that could last ‘years’.
They have refused to discuss plans for what will happen in Gaza after Hamas is toppled: Joe Biden, who was in Israel on Wednesday, asked about a post-Hamas Gaza, and was reportedly told that all resources were currently focused on the invasion, rather than the day after.
But several Israeli politicians have referenced creating an expanded demilitarized zone around the border.
In the early hours of Friday, CNN‘s international diplomatic editor, Nic Robertson, reported seeing an increase of Israeli military activity around the Israel-Gaza border.
Israeli tanks are seen massed on the Israel-Gaza border on Thursday, ahead of an imminent invasion of the enclave
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Merkava tanks in a staging area in southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip on Thursday
Lt. Colonel Jonathan Conricus, an IDF spokesman, asked about the movements, told CNN’s Erin Burnett that the military was ready, but would not announce their invasion in advance.
‘The reserves are ready, equipped, mission-oriented, and standing by for the next stage of our operations,’ said Conricus.
‘But at this time, of course, we will not advertise when, where, and how we will advance or do or enhance our military activities.’
Nir Barkat, Israel’s economy minister, confirmed that the invasion had been approved, and now it was up to the military to decide when to strike.
‘The Israeli government made a decision, gave a green light to the army to wipe them out and now it’s in the hands of the army,’ he said.
Troops were not expected to enter while foreign leaders were visiting.
Biden left Israel on Wednesday evening: Britain’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak, visited on Thursday morning, and then left for Saudi Arabia.
Biden addressed the American people from the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday night – only his second Oval Office address since becoming president.
He used his speech to explain why the Israeli war, and the Ukraine battle, were so crucial to the United States.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, posted a video on X of him rousing the troops, suggesting the invasion was imminent.
One veteran IDF commander told DailyMail.com that his troops were ready to ‘wipe Hamas out’.
Eliezer, a major in the IDF who goes by Ezzy, and did not want to give his last name, is stationed in the south of Israel with the Golani Brigade – a group of reservists, often one of the first to be called up for active duty.
Ezzy signed up in 2004 and has served in the last four major wars in Israel, as an engineer, rabbi and commander.
His unit is designated to lead the forces of the Brigade – neutralizing mine fields, creating new pathways, capturing bridgeheads, and detonating explosives, he told DailyMail.com.
‘Without a question, this is different than any year,’ he said. ‘But morale is very high, very optimistic.’