Israel is ratcheting up ground operations in Gaza with troops, tanks and artillery battling Hamas fighters after the most intense aerial bombardment in 22 days of war that cut off communications to the Palestinian territory. “Our forces are still in the field (in northern Gaza) and continue to fight,” Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, chief spokesman for the Israeli military, said Saturday. “We are making efforts to protect our forces with aerial fire.” The army said it has suffered no casualties, while Hamas said it had inflicted “heavy losses” on Israeli troops and equipment, according to a statement on Telegram. The ... (full story)

Israel on Saturday expanded its ground operation in Gaza, sending in tanks and infantry backed by massive strikes from the air and sea. Israel’s defense minister said that “the ground shook in Gaza” and that the war against the territory’s Hamas rulers entered a new stage. The bombardment, described by Gaza residents as the most intense of the war, also knocked out most communications in Gaza. This largely cut off the besieged enclave’s 2.3 million people from the world, while enabling the Israeli military to control the narrative in a new stage of fighting. The military released grainy images Saturday showing tank ... (full story)