Israel planning largest Gaza operation in 15 years, ground invasion imminent after evacuation order

Israel Defense Forces has begun to approve plans for divisions and brigades ahead of a ground campaign.

“Around the Gaza Strip, Israeli reserve soldiers in formation are getting ready for the next stage of operations,” IDF Foreign Media Spokesperson Jonathan Conricus said at a briefing for foreign media.

The operation is expected to be the IDF’s largest ground campaign since Operation Cast Lead, which took place December 2008 through January 2009.

Conricus reminded the press that Palestinian civilians in Gaza “are not our enemy.”

“We didn't put those civilians there,” he said. “They are not our enemy. We are not trying to kill or injure any civilians. We are fighting against Hamas. That needs to be abundantly clear. We are targeting their infrastructure - wherever it is.”  

Conricus said the IDF's evacuation order for residents of the northern Gaza Strip is intended to prevent harm.

“Gaza City is where the focus and the hub of Hamas activities are, that is where most of the commanders are, most of their infrastructure and their ability to continue to operate,” Conricus explained.

“It is very sad and unfortunate that so many media outlets focus on our actions instead of placing the responsibility on the one who controls Gaza - Hamas,” he added. “They are the ones who initiated this war. They are the ones who attacked our citizens.”

IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari also gave a press briefing about the IDF’s activities overnight and into the morning.

Hagari detailed the events of the night: “We attacked dozens of military targets of Hamas operatives who were in the staging grounds, and military command posts. Attacks were carried out based on joint intelligence from the IDF and the Shin Bet. The Hamas operatives were from the ‘Nukhba Force’ that led the murderous attack on the residents of the south. We will settle accounts with anyone involved in the atrocity at the beginning of the war.”

Last night, IAF fighter jets conducted wide-scale strikes throughout the Gaza Strip. These included dozens of Hamas terror targets as well as “Nukhba” terrorist operatives that were in a staging ground in the Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/fmI7ilhya6

— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 14, 2023

Hagari said the IDF has taken out two senior Hamas leaders.

"At 07:15, the IDF and Shin Bet eliminated Merad Abu Merad, a senior Hamas air force commander in Gaza. This is a senior figure involved for years in terrorist activities against civilians, even the Saturday attack,” Hagari stated.

The other senior Hamas official, Ali Qadhi, was the leader of the commando unit ‘Nukhba Force’ which led the barbaric attack last Saturday.

Ali Qadi led the inhumane, barbaric October 7 massacre of civilians in Israel.

We just eliminated him.
All Hamas terrorists will meet the same fate.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 14, 2023

Hagari also condemned calls by Hamas who were instructing residents in Gaza not to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip to the southern region just several miles away.

"We see Hamas attempting to counter the evacuation of residents, so I went to Al Jazeera so they could see me and understand that it's not a fake,” Hagari said.

Hagari said Hamas wants to keep residents in Gaza as human shields.

“They want to keep them in Gaza as human shields. This is happening in all the media: radio, loudspeakers, and television. Including phone calls,” Hagari stated.  

“Hamas is entrenched in tunnels beneath the civilians' buildings; this is part of its warfare principles. We need to dismantle this. This operation will mitigate this.”