The Israeli military has ‘expanded’ its ground operations early Saturday Australian time, sending tanks into the Gaza Strip region and continuing a series of air strikes on underground targets in the territory.

The Israeli military has ‘expanded’ its ground operations early Saturday Australian time, sending tanks into the Gaza Strip region and continuing a series of air strikes on underground targets in the territory.
The military stepped up air strikes and ground attacks in northern sections of the Gaza Strip on Friday night local time. Telecommunications and internet access have also been hit by a blackout in the region.
Israel defence force spokesman Daniel Hagari announced: “In recent hours we have increased the attacks in Gaza.
“The air force widely attacks underground targets and terrorist infrastructure, very significantly. In continuation of the offensive activity we carried out in the last few days, the ground forces are expanding the ground activity this evening.”
Rear Admiral Hagari once again urged Palestinians to leave the strip’s northern region.
Earlier, Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel’s air force was close to completing strikes on Gaza to damage Hamas infrastructure ahead of the ground incursion.
Palestinian telecom providers Paltel and Jawaal have both reported a total disruption to their services as a result of air strikes.
Mark Regev, an adviser to Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli ambassador to the UK, told Fox News that military operations are underway to increase the pressure on Hamas.
“We are beefing up the pressure on Hamas,’’ he said.
“They will continue to be on the receiving end of our military blows until we have dismantled their military machine and dissolve their political structure in Gaza. When this is over, Gaza will be very different,” he said.
In an interview with MSNBC Regev also said: “Hamas will pay for its crimes against humanity. Tonight the turnaround begins. Hamas will feel our rage.”
The IDF is expected to launch a wide-scale incursion into Gaza with the intention of removing Hamas.
IDF spokesman Peter Lerner said in an interview that the strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza, along with the manoeuvring of tanks, were not the “official ground incursion” anticipated to take place.
Meanwhile, Hamas has been reporting that it has been foiling Israeli ground incursions at two locations along the Gaza Strip.
Hamas says the Israelis have begun a ground incursion into Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza and Hamas fighters have also been engaging with Israel fighters in the area just north of Bureij camp.
Hamas Al Qassam Brigades has reported violent clashes on the ground.

Communication networks, the internet and electricity networks have been cut amid heavy Israeli bombing.
There were unverified social media images that Israel may have unleashed special missiles, dubbed the bunker busters, which are designed to destroy the Hamas underground tunnel network.
Earlier an Hamas official Ezzat al-Rishaq announced:“If Netanyahu decides to enter Gaza tonight, the resistance is ready, the remains of his soldiers will be swallowed up by the land of Gaza.”
Various social media accounts have reported a ferocious and significant intensity of bombing across the northern parts of the Gaza Strip.
Before the renewed bombardment, the Israeli military presented evidence it said showed the Al Qassam brigades has been using Al Shifa hospital in Gaza for military purposes and as a cover for its underground headquarters.
The World Health Organisation director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said they had lost contact with staff, health workers and facilities in Gaza because of the communications blackout.
Palestinian Red Crescent said it was deeply concerned about the ability of teams to now provide emergency medical services in Gaza.
“This (communications) disruption affects the central emergency number ‘101’ and hinders the arrival of ambulance vehicles to the wounded and injured,’’ the Red Crescent said in a statement.