COUNTDOWN IS ON
Israel to invade Gaza ‘as soon as THIS WEEK after US move missile defences to region’ and PM warns ‘Hamas are doomed’
Just days ago the IDF vowed to ramp up airstrikes on Gaza as it prepares for the 'next stage of war'
ISRAEL'S invasion of Gaza could begin as early as this week after the US reportedly made a chilling request for more time to get its defences in place as the country's PM warned that "Hamas is doomed".
Benjamin Netanyahu claimed troops have already "eliminated thousands of terrorists" and has vowed to do everything in his power to return hostages back to their families before launching their ground offensive.
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Speaking from Tel Aviv this evening, he said: "All Hamas militants are doomed," adding people are working "around the clock" to wipe out the terrorists.
But the PM refused to provide details of "when and how" the ground offensive will take place, saying the "considerations" are not known by the public and that is "how it should be".
"I want to make it very clear, the timing of the operation of the IDF is unanimously determined by the cabinet that runs the war along with the chief of the general staff," he said.
"We work in order to secure the best optimal conditions for their next operations."
READ MORE ON ISRAEL HAMAS WAR
Calling on Israelis, he urged them "not to forget for one moment" those who have been killed in the Hamas attacks.
"It is like shoving thousands of arrows into our heart which is bleeding," he added, explaining there will be a national day of mourning added to the calendar to remember the victims.
He urged people to continue evacuating to the south of Gaza and says the country is helping citizens "to get their own personal weapons in a controlled way".
"My role is to lead this country and its people to all out victory of over our enemies," he said.
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"Together we shall fight and together we will win."
American officials are said to have persuaded IDF forces to hold off until they can deliver air defence systems to the region to protect their troops.
The US is working fast to protect American soldiers in the area including those in Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, from missiles and rockets.
They are scrambling to get almost a dozen of the advanced air defence systems to the region amid fears of an all-out war, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Officials said they also believe troops could be targeted by other militant groups, as well as Hamas, once Israel's long awaited invasion begins.
There are even fears among some experts that the regional conflict could spiral into an all-out world war.
In Iraq and Syria there have been at least 13 attacks, using drones and missiles, which resulted in the death of an American.
A US drone was also destroyed and dozens of troops were injured.
Israel is also reportedly factoring in the efforts to get humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza as it attempts to blast the terror group's strongholds.
Officials are also taking into account diplomatic efforts to free some 200 Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
It's feared many of the captives are being held in Hamas' mysterious 311-mile maze of underground tunnels in the strip that Lifshitz described as a "spider web".
Hamas fanatics stormed the Israeli border in a brutal ambush on October 7, murdering and kidnapping hundreds of men, women and children.
Israel has already massed tanks, called up over 360,000 troops, and evacuated its own civilians from the border area.
And just days ago the IDF vowed to ramp up airstrikes on Gaza as it prepares for the "next stage of war".
Israeli PM Netanyahu previously vowed "We are striking at our enemies with unprecedented might - this is just the beginning. We will end this war stronger than ever."
“We will destroy Hamas,” he added, saying Israel has widespread international support for the operation.
In the past 24 hours, the IDF claims to have hit 400 targets, including several Hamas commanders, while their tanks and troops swarm close to the border.
The first step in Israel's invasion would be to take over northern Gaza to destroy Hamas and Islamic Jihad's military power, Israeli outlet reports.
The physical control of the entire northern strip up to the Gaza River would be crucial to harm fighters and military infrastructures in the area.
Once the terror leadership is eliminated, troops would then utilise intelligence and pinpoint strikes to destroy terror assets and kill terror leaders in southern Gaza.
The move would benefit both Israeli and Palestinians living in the Gaza strip, bringing them "a basic but adequate measure of freedom of movement and civil services", YNet claims.
These include health, education, water, electricity, and public sanitation.
Israel's third key objective would be to build a heavily-guarded defence line, including a closed military zone near border inside Gazan territory.
The army would then ensure to take pinpointed military action in Gaza after the war ends to foil any terror plots or rebuilding of terrorist infrastructure.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would then evacuate the area, but the country would still focus on a full and final demilitarisation of Gaza within five to 10 years.
To achieve this "exit plan", Israel would need to cooperate closely with the United States.
It comes after Israel Netanyahu reportedly won private backing from Joe Biden to press ahead with a ground invasion of Gaza, according to accounts of closed-door meetings between the two leaders.
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On his visit to Israel, Biden told Netanyahu he remained “fully in support” of Israel’s plans to launch an incursion in order to “eradicate Hamas”.
Although it now appears as though Israel has made concessions on the timing of their move in order to protect American troops in the Middle East.
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