The Israeli military said Saturday it has prepared a “coordinated” offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip involving air, ground and naval forces.
In a statement on its website, the army said it is “preparing to implement a wide range of offensive operative plans.”
The announcement was made a day after telling Palestinians living in the enclave to flee south towards a closed border with Egypt.
Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas in retaliation for a rampage by its fighters, who stormed through Israeli towns a week ago, gunning down civilians and making off with scores of hostages.
In response, Israeli jets and artillery have subjected Gaza to the most intense bombardment it has ever seen, putting the territory, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, under total siege.
Gaza authorities say more than 2,200 people have been killed, a quarter of them children, and nearly 10,000 wounded. Rescue workers searched desperately for survivors of nighttime air raids.
Thousands of Palestinians fled the north of the Gaza Strip on Saturday from the path of the expected Israeli ground assault, while Israel pounded the area with more airstrikes and said it kept two roads open to let people escape.
“Soldiers and battalions are deployed across the country and are increasing operational readiness for the next stages of the war, with an emphasis on significant ground operations," the Israeli military said in its statement.
