Aha Dua Permata: IDF Carries Out Tank Raid in Northern Gaza

IDF Carries Out Tank Raid in Northern Gaza

IDF forces carried out a targeted raid using tanks in the northern Gaza Strip.In a tweet they wrote: " IDF forces under the command of the Givati Brigade tonight carried out a targeted raid using tanks in the territory of the northern Gaza Strip, as part of the preparation of the area for the next stages of combat.As part of the activity, the forces located and attacked many terrorists, destroyed terrorist infrastructures, anti-tank positions and carried out work to organise the area.The troops left the area at the end of the mission"

The raid is not believed to form part of Israel's highly anticipated ground invasion of Gaza, but comes amid heightened expectations of a step-up in the IDF's offensive in the enclave.

In a televised address Wednesday, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once again said that Israel is preparing for a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, but provided no details about timing. Israeli military officials have previously said that the next stage of the campaign may not necessarily be a ground incursion.

Fuel, meanwhile, is running out in the Gaza Strip and a U.N. humanitarian relief agency warns its aid operations in the area could be obstructed as a result.

As the international community sounds the alarm on a growing humanitarian crisis in the region, the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has called for a "pause" in Israel's military operations against Hamas in order to allow more aid to get into the Gaza Strip, NBC News reported. Speaking at a news conference, Biden stressed that Israel needs to do "everything in its power to protect innocent civilians."

Eight Palestinians injured in latest Israeli raid in occupied West Bank

At least eight Palestinians were injured in the latest raid by Israeli forces, which occurred in the northwest of the occupied West Bank near the Jordan Valley.

Palestinians evacuate two wounded boys following Israeli air strikes on Gaza City on Wednesday [Abed Khaled/AP]

This raid is one of several that have taken place overnight.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners Society, Israeli forces have detained more than 1,450 Palestinians since October 7.

At least 104 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli raids, including two who died in custody, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Society.

In its latest update, the Israeli army says the number of people taken captive in the Gaza Strip by Hamas was 224, adding that the number could rise further.

On Wednesday, the army had put the number of remaining hostages at 222 people.

In recent days, Hamas has released several captives, including US and Israeli citizens, after Qatari mediation efforts

Russia's Putin warns conflict may spread 'far beyond' Middle East borders

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the Israel-Hamas conflict could "spill far beyond the borders of the Middle East," according to a Google-translated readout of a speech given to religious leaders.

"Our task today, the main task, is to stop the bloodshed and violence. Otherwise, further growth of the crisis is fraught with severe and extremely dangerous, destructive consequences," he said.

Divided between loyalties to Israel and Hamas-supporting Iran, Russia has repeatedly called for an end to violence and civilian suffering, but has fallen short of condemning the Palestinian militant group. Putin previously spoke against a possible Israeli ground incursion into the Gaza Strip, warning of the likelihood of civilian casualties resulting from attacking urban areas.

"We see attempts by some forces to provoke further escalation, to drag as many other countries and peoples into the conflict as possible, using them for their own selfish interests, to launch a real wave of chaos and mutual hatred not only in the Middle East, but also far beyond its borders," Putin said.

The Kremlin has repeatedly blamed the Israel-Hamas war on the U.S. — which, alongside several Western countries, slapped sanctions against Moscow for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.