Day 23: As war enters ‘new phase’ Netanyahu warns: ‘It will be long and difficult’

In press briefings on Saturday night, Israeli leaders indicated that the war against Hamas had entered “a new phase” following the Israeli military’s expansion of ground troops inside the Gaza Strip.

“Today we moved into a new phase. Our forces are currently carrying out ground operations in the Gaza Strip,” IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen.Daniel Hagari said.

IDF troops are also operating deeper inside the Strip than before.

Hagari said the ground operation has three objectives: the dismantling of Hamas; security at the borders and the “utmost efforts to return all the hostages back home.”

IDF soldiers preparing for ground activity in Gaza, Oct. 28, 2023 (Photo: IDF)

According to Hagari, “The objectives of the war require ground entry. There are no achievements without risks, and there is no victory without prices being paid.”

Israel Defense Forces on Sunday morning said fighter jets struck some 450 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip within the last 24 hours.

The targets included Hamas command centers, observation posts and anti-tank guided missile launch positions.

The IDF also expanded ground operations in the Gaza Strip overnight, with more forces entering the Strip, according to the report.

Israeli artillery units fire an artillery on the Gaza Strip, Oct. 28, 2023. (Photo: Saeed Qaq/IMAGO via Reuters)

The IDF said combined combat teams struck terror cells attempting to attack IDF troops with anti-tank missile launches. Ground forces also directed aircraft to target sites belonging to the terror group, including rocket launch sites. According to the IDF reports, 55 high-ranking Hamas leaders have been eliminated so far.

Israel on Sunday morning also announced it would allow more humanitarian aid into southern Gaza.

Two soldiers were injured in overnight operations, one seriously, according to the IDF, however, no soldiers were killed. I

Hagari said there have been a total of 311 IDF fatalities since Oct/ 7, most of which came as a result of the initial invasion and attack by Hamas terrorists.

IDF soldiers preparing for ground activity in Gaza, Oct. 28, 2023 (Photo: IDF)

Members of Israel’s war cabinet held a press briefing on Saturday night.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and war cabinet member Benny Gantz spoke to the press and allowed time for questions at the end of the briefing.

“The war inside the Gaza Strip will be long and difficult – and we are ready for it. This our second war of independence. We will fight to defend our homeland. We will fight and not retreat,” Netanyahu said.

“We will fight on land, at sea and in the air. We will destroy the enemy above ground and below ground. We will fight and we will win.”

Gallant also warned that the war would be a long fight.

“This will not be a short war. It is a long war that will require us to be strong, as individuals, as a society, as leaders,” Gallant said. “This is a war on our home. This is a war we didn’t choose. It’s either us or them.”

Early on Sunday morning, media outlets from Gaza said Israel had launched an attack close to the Shifa Hospital, just one day after showing evidence that Hamas is using the hospital as a critical command center.

The IDF did not comment on the reported airstrikes at the time of publication.