Israel launches ground operation in Gaza

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday instructed the military to begin a ground offensive in Gaza, an official statement from his office said.
Reuters witnesses and Gaza residents reported heavy artillery and naval shelling and helicopter fire along the Gaza border.
“The prime minister and defence minister have instructed the IDF (Israel Defence Force) to begin a ground operation tonight in order to hit the terror tunnels from Gaza into Israel,” the statement said.

Erdogan accuses Israel of seeking 'systematic genocide' in Gaza
Palestinian health officials say 233 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air and naval strikes. The Israeli military claims Gaza militants have fired more than 1,300 rockets into Israel. One Israeli civilian has been killed by fire from Gaza.
A statement from the Israeli military said the operation will include “infantry, armoured corps, engineer corps, artillery and intelligence combined with aerial and naval support”.