According to the official IDF Twitter account, a large IDF force launched a ground operation in the Gaza Strip at 10:41 pm. A new phase of Operation Protective Edge has been announced and follows 10 days of Hamas attacks on Israel by land, air and sea – and repeated rejections of offers to deescalate the situation.

The goal of the expanded operation is to target the Hamas terror tunnels which requires a certain amount of precision that could not be achieved by airstrikes alone. According to the IDF, infantry units, armored units, engineering corps, artillery and IDF intelligence are all working together in and around the Gaza Strip.

The directive for ground action was approved by Israel’s Security Cabinet after Israel agreed to two ceasefires, both of which were broken or rejected by Hamas. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yaalon also instructed the IDF to be prepared for an expansion of the ground action.