Israeli forces appear to have advanced more than 2 miles into Gaza, raising the Jewish state’s flag in the Palestinian territories for the first time in 18 years, according to a new video.
Images of Israel Defense Forces soldiers flying their national flag inside Gaza were published on social media by Israeli Jewish media outlet Hayo on Saturday evening, ahead of a planned full-scale Israeli invasion.
“Soldiers of the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Brigade are raising the Israeli flag in the middle of Gaza on the beach,” one soldier recounted in the video. “We will not forgive or forget, and we will not stop until victory.”
It is believed to be the first time the Israeli flag has been flown in Gaza since 2005, when Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories were dismantled and relocated, the Jerusalem Post reported.
The IDF has yet to comment on the video. Hamas also did not issue a statement.
Despite claims that the flag was planted “in the middle of Gaza,” CNN placed the location of the video to an area in northern Gaza about 2 miles from the border.
Israeli soldiers raise their national flag inside Gaza, according to a video posted to social media Saturday night.@IsraelHayomHeb/X The video may have been taken on a beach near the Bianco Resort, 2 miles into Gaza.@ytirawi/X Along with progress in in the north, Israeli tanks have been spotted moving near the southern border of Gaza. AFP via Getty Images The apparent takeover of Palestinian territory is the latest move by Israeli forces inside Gaza as they prepare for an all-out invasion.@IsraelHayomHeb/X
Palestinian journalist Younis Tirawi echoed the findings, suggesting the video was taken near the Bianco Resort along the Mediterrainian Sea.
The footage comes as Israel plans a full-scale ground offensive to destroy Hamas after the terror group killed more than 1,400 people at the border on Oct. 7.
Israel announced on Friday that it was “expanding ground operations” as it prepares for its invasion, with the IDF paving the way for troops and tanks to enter Gaza.
“We’re looking for anti-tank capabilities, we’re destroying observation posts, and we’re engaging terrorists where we find them on the front lines or on the edge of the Gaza Strip,” Israel Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lerner told ABC News.
“We intend to dismantle their capabilities, destroy their government and ensure that they cannot use the Gaza Strip as a stage against our people again,” he said.
Along with the progress along the northern border, Israel has increased its military presence along the southern border since last week, when photos taken by Reuters on Friday showed several Israeli tanks and other military equipment lining the border with the Gaza Strip.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
