Israel’s armed forces are entering a new phase in the war with Hamas in Gaza, its chief said today of the General Staff, General Herzi Halevias Israeli forces continue their operations in the bombed Palestinian enclave.

“War has stages and today we are moving to the next stage. Our forces are currently operating on its territory Gaza Strip“, he said in his televised message.

Halevi said that achieving Israel’s goals in Gaza “requires a ground operation,” explaining that “there is no way to destroy the enemy without entering their own territory.”

The general assured that “the enemy has many hundreds of dead” and his infrastructure has been destroyed. He added that the Israel “will do everything possible” to free the hostages held by Hamas.