Israeli troops have broken through the outskirts of Gaza City, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
“We are at the height of the battle. We have had impressive successes and we have passed the outskirts of Gaza City. We are making progress,” Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office.
In a post on X, the prime minister said: “Nothing will stop us. We will go forward. We will advance and win, and we will do it with God’s help and with the help of our heroic warriors.”
The Israeli army is surrounding the city of Gaza and deepening its operations there, said the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces.
“Our soldiers have been operating in Gaza City for the past few days, surrounding it from several directions, deepening the operation,” said Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. “Our forces are in very significant areas of Gaza City.”
“We have passed another significant stage in the war. The forces are in the heart of northern Gaza, operating in Gaza City, encircling it and deepening the ground offensive and gains. “The Israeli forces are fighting in a dense and complex urban area, which requires professional combat and courage,” he said.
He added that his forces are fighting “in close proximity against a cruel enemy”, and that the ground forces are being monitored by “precise intelligence, with fire from the air and sea”.
“This partnership makes the fight much more effective,” he said.