Israel is to step up its punishing strikes in Gaza to increase pressure on Hamas, a military spokesman said Saturday as top officers warned troops to be ready to enter the besieged Palestinian territory.
Since the shock Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, which left 1,400 dead, Israel has launched devastating air and ground bombardments of Gaza. The Hamas authorities say 4,385 people have died.
Israel has massed tens of thousands of troops and hundreds of tanks along the Gaza border for a widely anticipated ground invasion.
"We have to enter the next phase of the war in the best conditions, not according to what anyone tells us," military spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari told a press conference.
"From today, we are increasing the strikes and minimising the danger.
"We will increase the attacks and therefore I called on Gaza City residents to continue moving south for their safety," Hagari added.
Israel has warned more than one million residents of a northern zone around Gaza City to flee to southern Gaza. Israel believes that Hamas leaders and infrastructure are concentrated in the north. But hundreds of thousands of civilians are said to remain in and around Gaza City.
The comments came hours after the first international aid to reach Gaza since October 7 crossed the border from Egypt.
In Israel, commanders visited frontline units on Saturday in a new sign of military readiness.
"We will enter Gaza," Chief of staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi told one infantry brigade on a visit.
"Gaza is densely populated, the enemy is preparing a lot of things there -- but we are also preparing for them," Halevi said.
"We will enter for an operational mission, a professional one, to destroy Hamas activists, Hamas infrastructure. And we'll also keep in our minds the memory of the pictures and images and the dead from Saturday two weeks ago (October 7)," he added.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
4 Top Leaders Quit Ajit Pawar's Party In Major Setback After Poll Drubbing
US Raises Concerns With Israel Over "Unacceptably High" Gaza Civilian Deaths 15 Killed In Israeli Strike On School Sheltering Displaced Gazans Surveillance System Along Borders Could Pave Way For Ceasefire In Gaza BJP Plans UP Overhaul After Lok Sabha Poll Drubbing: Sources "I Divorce You... Your Ex-Wife": Dubai Princess Dumps Husband In Insta Post In Massive Row Over Karnataka 100% Quota Bill, Chief Minister Deletes Post FMGE 2024: Results Out For Foreign Medical Graduates Examination Mercedes-Benz Wishbox Campaign Launched, Aimed To Reinforce Accessibility All You Need To Know About New UK Government's Key Policy Plans Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.