Israel threatens Gaza with ground attack as conflict intensifies

According to Al-Jazeera, the death toll in Gaza has reached 113 including women and 31 children. Meanwhile Israel has deployed army personnel and tanks near the besieged Gaza strip.

Israel continued to bombard Gaza strip with air strikes and artillery shells, ignoring appeals from across the world for calm, as it stepped up the deployment of troops and tanks near the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Israeli forces are have targeted police headquarters and security buildings in Gaza as they launched a series of air raids on various locations. It is said to be the most intense airstrikes in Gaza since the bombardment in 2014.

The reporter of Al Jazeera, Safwat Al Kahlout, who is reporting from live Gaza, has denied reports of any ground attack taking place as of yet. However, he has confirmed that Israeli troops are massing at the border.

“A ground operation needs a lot of preparation, needs a lot of troops,” he said, noting that it is likely that there is not yet enough number of tanks, artillery and troops to enter Gaza.

In a separate statement, the Israeli army also denied that the ground offensive has started.

On the other hand, at least six Israelis and one Indian national have also been killed as a result of retaliating strikes from Hamas.

Yesterday, Palestinian residents of Gaza Strip have marked another deadly Eidul Fitr amid bombardment by Israel. Thousands of Palestinians gathered at Al Aqsa Mosque today to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, one of the holiest days in Islam.

Israeli police, in its latest act of violence, stormed the compound on May 10 for a third consecutive day, firing rubber-coated steel rounds, stun grenades and tear gas at Palestinian worshippers inside the mosque in the final days of the holy month of Ramadan.