Israel Deploys Ground Forces to Gaza Strip for First Time in 7 Years... Escalates to Full-Scale War (Update)

Strike Expected on Hamas Military Base in Border Area
Concerns Grow Over Reenactment of 2014 '50-Day War'

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Israel has launched ground troops into the Gaza Strip for the first time since 2014, marking the full-scale start of the war with the Palestinian armed faction Hamas. While the international community is urging restraint on both sides, Israel is reported to have rejected all ceasefire proposals despite mediation efforts from various countries and proceeded with attacks on the Gaza Strip. Consequently, concerns are rising that thousands of casualties may occur in the Gaza Strip.

According to foreign media including AFP on the 13th (local time), the Israeli military posted on social media that "ground troops and aircraft are conducting attacks in the Gaza Strip." Jonathan Conricus, spokesperson for the Israeli military, also confirmed, "The Israeli military has entered Palestinian residential areas," announcing the start of ground troop deployment in the Gaza Strip. On the same day, the Israeli military reportedly prepared for a full-scale attack on the Gaza Strip by forward-deploying infantry and armored units near the border and mobilizing 7,000 reservists. The Israeli military is expected to initially attack Hamas military bases deployed near the border, but it is not yet known whether attacks will continue throughout the Gaza Strip in the future.

As the large-scale bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas enters its fourth day, it is reported that seven people have died in Israel and 103 in Palestine so far. Israel is believed to have decided to deploy ground troops after major southern cities such as Tel Aviv were attacked. Earlier, Hamas hinted at the possibility of accepting a ceasefire proposal in response to international mediation efforts, but the Israeli government is reported to have firmly rejected it.

As a result, there are concerns that the '50-day war' between Israel and Hamas in 2014 could be reenacted. At that time, the Israeli military deployed about 60,000 ground troops for a full-scale attack on the Gaza Strip, resulting in severe casualties with over 2,200 deaths within the Gaza Strip alone.

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