Tel Aviv, 27 October 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Israeli ground forces will be "expanding" their operations in the Gaza Strip on Friday, army spokesman Daniel Hagari said.

Hagari said on social media that Israeli air attacks in Gaza had "increased" recently and that ground forces would be "expanding their activity" in the coming hours.

The army has been amassing troops and equipment on the border of the Palestinian territory since October 7, when Hamas militants breached defences and rampaged across southern Israel, killing more than 1,400 people and kidnapping at least 229 others.

Israeli drones, warplanes and missiles have been relentlessly pounding targets across Gaza for nearly three weeks.

Political and military leaders have repeatedly said they are preparing to widen their assault on Hamas, which rules Gaza, with a ground invasion.

Israeli troops have conducted limited overnight raids into Gaza this week.

Photo: MIA archive