Israel launched a massive military offensive on Thursday, sending an unknown number of ground troops into Gaza.
The operation started after the end of temporary ceasefire brokered by the United Nations. The army said the operation's goal was "to target Hamas' tunnels that enable terrorists to infiltrate Israel and carry out attacks."
The operation was announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office in a statement.
"In light of the despicable and relentless aggression by Hamas and the dangerous infiltration into Israel, Israel is obliged to protect its citizens," the statement read.
The Israel Defense Forces later confirmed the beginning of the operation on Twitter.
BREAKING NEWS: A large IDF force has just launched a ground operation in the Gaza Strip. A new phase of Operation Protective Edge has begun.— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) July 17, 2014
The new phase follows 10 days of Hamas attacks on Israel by land, air & sea – and repeated rejections of offers to deescalate the situation.— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) July 17, 2014
The number of troops sent to Gaza was not immediately announced, with the IDF simply saying in a blog post that the operation consisted of "a large IDF force of infantry, tanks, artillery, combat engineers, and field intelligence. Before the launch of the operation, Israel had called up 48,000 reserve soldiers, and later Thursday the Cabinet authorized the military to call up 18,000 more, the military said.
Israeli spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said thousands of soldiers backed by tanks and bulldozers entered Gaza after 10 p.m., local time.
This ground offensive comes after more than 10 days of air strikes between Hamas and Israeli forces. Israel has so far launched nearly 2,000 air strikes, while Hamas militants have fired more than 1,500 rockets at Israeli towns.
So far, the conflict has killed more than 230 Palestinians and one Israeli. On Wednesday, four Palestinian children were killed by an Israeli missile while playing soccer on a beach in Gaza City.
The Israeli offensive followed a rejection by Hamas of an Egyptian cease-fire plan earlier in the week.
Before the ground operation, Israeli military struck the Gaza strip with a barrage of missiles.
Gaza's getting pounded. Absolutely pounded by Israel right now— Hugh Naylor (@HughNaylor) July 17, 2014
North of gaza getting absolutely pummelled right now by artillery— peter beaumont (@petersbeaumont) July 17, 2014
The military wing of Hamas continued to fire rockets at Israel during the early evening.
#c4news This amazing photograph taken minutes ago by my cameraman @hirdstephen of outgoing rocket fire from #Gaza pic.twitter.com/yKFjEOyKUU— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
Some journalists in the area were hastily ordered to evacuate their hotels ahead of the operation.
Beachfront hotels given 30 mins to evacuate. Just over 20 mins ago. #Gaza— Alexander Marquardt (@MarquardtA) July 17, 2014
The IDF Twitter account, meanwhile, has started posting pictures of Israeli soldiers getting ready to go into Gaza.
From the Field: Our soldiers preparing to enter Gaza. The whole nation stands behind them. pic.twitter.com/qQw3Uzjhrt— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) July 17, 2014
An Hamas spokesperson reportedly reacted saying the operation is "foolish" and will have "dreadful consequences."
After launch of ground offensive, the electricity in Gaza was reportedly shut down.
In this shot of Gaza from minutes ago you can see huge area now in darkness. Reports that electricity has been cut. pic.twitter.com/La4TmatGIk— Richard Hall (@_RichardHall) July 17, 2014
Chris Gunness, the spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), tweeted that all communications with UN colleagues were cut off.
"I have no information independent of media sources.," he said.
UPDATE, 6:41 p.m.: Unconfirmed reports of Israel using toxic gas in the operation have started surfacing.
Spokesman for #Gaza Ministry of Health, Ashraf al-Kidra, at Shifa Hospital, reports casualties from "toxic gas" east of Rafah in S #c4news— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
Just spoke to my family, they are confirming that the #israelis are throwing toxic gas bombs a lot of suffocated people in hospitals #Gaza— Ahmed Masoud (@masoud_ahmed) July 17, 2014
Min of health spox in #Gaza says dozens taken to hospitals in north reportedly choking from some sort of gas— Rawya Rageh (@RawyaRageh) July 17, 2014
UPDATE, 7:57 p.m.: A large crowd of protesters has gathered in front of Israel's consulate in Istanbul, demanding Israeli diplomats to be kicked out of the country, according to the local newspaper the Daily Sabah.
#BREAKING Thousands gather in front of Israeli Consulate in #Istanbul to protest against the recent attacks in #Gaza pic.twitter.com/U8nYaxiSAz— DAILY SABAH (@DailySabah) July 17, 2014
Istanbul protesters at Israeli Embassy replace Israeli flag with Palestinian flag via@FiratGunay pic.twitter.com/F0C2y9UIwV— sσmαччα jαвαrtí (@ArtiJabz) July 17, 2014
Some protesters reportedly attacked the consulate, trying to smash the windows of the consulate and trying to force their way in. Their actions have prompted the police to respond with water cannons and tear gas.
This is Israeli Consulate in Istanbul. Smoke rising, some fire. Police began confronting : pic.twitter.com/DQewDEncev— ilhan tanir (@WashingtonPoint) July 17, 2014
Police intervened with water cannons & tear gas to angry mob that tried to get into Israeli consulate in Istanbul pic.twitter.com/e5MAGFVgQX— Mehmet Solmaz (@MhmtSlmz) July 17, 2014
UPDATE, 8:14 p.m.: The Director General of the Gaza Ministry of Health reportedly denied that Israel was firing any toxic gas.
Spoke w/Gaza MOH: there is no toxic gas being fired by the Israelis. "It's just a rumor,"-Medhat Abbas, Director General, Ministry of Health— Allison (@allissonCD) July 17, 2014
UPDATE, 8:59 p.m.: The Israel Foreign Ministry reported that on Thursday evening, 76 Israeli cities and towns were put on alert by rockets fired from Gaza.
This evening in Israel, sirens sounded in 76 cities & villages following rockets fired from #Gaza. #IsraelUnderFire pic.twitter.com/NrxUheZMYg— Israel Foreign Min. (@IsraelMFA) July 18, 2014
The IDF, meanwhile, reported that an anti-tank missile hit a military bulldozer.
Earlier, an anti-tank missile hit an IDF heavy bulldozer in the southern Gaza Strip, causing damage. No injuries reported.— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) July 18, 2014
Additional reporting from the Associated Press
This story has been updated
[nggallery id=17659]