Israeli troops and tanks enter Gaza in overnight raid.

Israeli troops and tanks enter Gaza in overnight raid in preparation for ground operation.
The troops – who according to Israeli media reports came from the Givati brigade and 162nd Armoured Division – returned from the raid without casualties.
“Through the raid, we eliminated terrorists, neutralised threats, dismantled explosives, neutralised ambushes, in order to enable the next stages of the war for the ground forces,” said the Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.

Hamas is a designated terrorist group backed by Iran and that has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007.
Hamas began firing thousands of rockets on Saturday morning, striking targets as far away as Tel Aviv and the outskirts of Jerusalem, which rarely see any direct hits because of Israel's sophisticated Iron Dome missile defense system.
Backed by a barrage of rockets, Hamas militants stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip into nearby Israeli towns
The unprecedented attack, which has killed at least 1300 people in Israel, Israel's Army Radio reported Monday. At least 3000 people have been injured, the Israeli Health Ministry said earlier.
More than 100 Israeli civilians, soldiers, and foreign nationals have also been taken hostage by Hamas, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel on Sunday formally declared war on Hamas.
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