Israel Defense Forces announce an expansion of their ground operations in Gaza

According to IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared on Friday that they are "expanding ground operations" in the Gaza Strip.

"The IDF ground forces are expanding their ground operation this evening, in addition to the offensive operations we carried out over the past few days," Hagari stated.

“Hundreds of thousands of IDF soldiers are all around the borders of the state — in the air, ground, and the sea — to protect the state," he added.