Israel-Palestine Escalation
Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7, with Hamas movement's troops infiltrating border areas. On October 8, the Israeli government announced that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country was officially in a state of war.

Israel Postpones Ground Offensive in Gaza Strip Due to Bad Weather, Reports Say

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - In response to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, the country declared a state of war and conducted airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. On October 14, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it is preparing to expand its offensive in the Gaza Strip, adding that the focus will be on a ground operation.
Sputnik
The Israeli military planned to launch a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip this weekend, but postponed it for few days due to weather conditions that would have hampered pilots and drone operators’ ability to support ground forces, media reported, citing three senior Israeli military officers who outlined unclassified details about the offensive plan.
According to the plan, the Israeli military is ordered to capture Gaza City and destroy the enclave's current leadership, the report read, adding that tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers, as well as tanks, sappers and commandos, were expected to participate in the offensive.
Israel-Palestine Escalation
Israel Defense Forces Says Eliminated Hamas Special Forces Company Commander
Hamas fighters, on their part, plan to ambush Israeli troops from behind by emerging suddenly from numerous Gaza City's hidden underground tunnels, the outlet said, citing a Hamas officer.
Earlier in the day, US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh said Israel was planning an attack on Gaza using bombs equipped with the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kit, which would lead to the complete destruction of the city.
On October 7, Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to declare a state of war the following day and launch retaliatory strikes. Both Israel and Palestine have reported over 1,000 deaths and thousands of injured as a result of the escalation.