Israeli forces stationed on the border of the Gaza Strip will soon be on its territory, declared the Israeli Minister of Defense, according to The Times of Israel.
"You see Gaza now from afar. Soon you will see it from within," the official said, addressing servicemen.
Against this backdrop, the US State Department has advised US citizens worldwide "to exercise increased caution" due to "increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against US citizens and interests."
On the morning of October 7, Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Flood of Al-Aqsa, announced by the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Within days of the attack, the Israeli military took control of all settlements near the Gaza border. It also began airstrikes against targets, including civilian objects, in the territory of the Gaza Strip. Additionally, Israel announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, cutting off water, food, electricity, medicine and fuel.
As of Thursday afternoon, more than 3.5 thousand people have been killed in Israel's strikes on Gaza, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli side reported more than a thousand deaths since October 7.