(The Sun) ISRAEL is gearing up for a full-scale ground invasion of bomb-blitzed Gaza after Hamas terrorists unleashed a bloodbath dubbed “Israel’s 9/11”.
As over 600 warplanes relentlessly pummel the Gaza Strip, 300,000 Israeli reserve troops, tanks and jets are gathering to unleash revengewithin the “next 48 hours”.
Israel is gearing up to unleash the full force of its military on GazaCredit: EPA
The IDF is amassing tanks and troops on the border in the town of SderotCredit: Getty
The Gaza Strip is already being pummelled by Israeli airstrikesCredit: Getty
Footage of the strikes in action as the target Hamas strongholdsCredit: Israeli Defence Force
More than 1,200 people in Israel and Gaza have been killed since the Palestinian terrorist group stormed the border on Saturday and massacred hundreds at a music festival.
Now, Israel is planning to launch a coordinated offensive within the “next 48 hours”, US officials reported.
It comes after Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to reduce Gaza to “rubble” as he declared war on Hamas and began the continued pounding of their strongholds in a ferocious retaliation.
Netanyahu said Israel does not have any choice but to unleash their full military might on Gaza.
“We have to go in. We can’t negotiate now,” he told US President Joe Biden today.
It comes as two Brits have been confirmed dead in Israel and eight more are missing.
Scot Bernard Cowan, 57, was murdered by the terrorist group during the horror attacks on Sunday.
And Corporal Nathanel Young, 20, who was serving in the Israeli Defence Forces, was confirmed dead on Saturday.
Israel Defence Forces (IDF) are amassing their 173,000 troops including 8,000 elite commandos, along with 300 tanks and plenty of heavy weaponry on the border with Gaza in the town of Sderot.
A further 300,000 reserve troops have been mobilised in an unprecedented move and sent south ahead of the possible invasion.
This morning, Israel imposed a “complete siege” on the area – including a sweeping ban on food and fuel moving into Gaza and an immediate cut-off of the water supply.
“There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed,” Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said.
The US is also moving several warships – including USS Gerald Ford – and aircraft to the Mediterranean after Joe Biden pledged Washington’s “rock solid” support to Tel Aviv.
It comes after Hamas terrorists launched an all-out attack on Israel from land, air and sea with 5,000 rockets fired during the early hours of Saturday morning.
So far, at least 800 people have been killed in Israel while more than 500 are confirmed dead in Gaza – with the death toll set to soar on both sides.
Over 260 bodies have been recovered from the Supernova music festival in Sukkot in southern Israel after the revellers were slaughtered bygunmen on paragliders and a barrage of rockets.
Rishi Sunak called an urgent COBRA meeting today following the brutal attacks.
It comes as…
- More than 1,200 have been confirmed dead in Israel and Gaza and thousands more injured
- Hamas terrorists launched an all-out attack on Israel from land, air and sea with 5,000 rockets fired
- Two British citizens have been confirmed dead, while eight other Britons are missing
- Rishi Sunak called an urgent COBRA meeting to discuss the attacks
- The Palestinian Ministry of Health said hundreds had died in the violence that followed the surprise Hamas attack on Israel
- Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that Gaza will be “reduced to rubble”
- Reports emerged of kidnapped Israeli soldiers being paraded on military vehicles
- One-eyed Hamas terror boss Mohammed Deif masterminded the deadly assault on Israel
- Netanyahu mobilised the country’s army reserves following his declaration of war
- Airlines have halted flights to Tel Aviv as the violence rages on
- The attack has been dubbed “Israel’s 9/11” after an “embarrassing intelligence failure”
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: “This is a fast moving situation, and therefore I’m uncomfortable speculating about the nature or the numbers of people involved.
“But this is unprecedented. We recognise this as an incredibly difficult time for the people of Israel.
The missing Brits include Jake Marlowe, 26, who was working as a security guard at the festival.
Another Brit, photographer Dan Darlington, who was visiting from his home in Berlin is also missing according to his dad David.
He was pictured laughing with his German girlfriend Carolin Bohl – who is also missing – shortly before they vanished during the festival massacre.
Nine Americans have also been killed in Israel, the US government confirmed.
300,000 reserve troops have been called up ahead of a possible ground invasionCredit: EPA
A paramedic carries an injured girl after the bombing of a mosque in GazaCredit: Rex
A medic runs as he carries an injured Palestinian child to ambulanceCredit: Reuters
Rescuers race to find survivors after an air strike in Jabalia, northern GazaCredit: Reuters
