The Israel military says air and ground troops “are currently attacking in the Gaza Strip”.

However, the IDF later clarified this statement, saying that ground operations against Palestinian militants had started but that they had not entered Gaza.

More than 16,000 reservist military personnel were called up earlier and additional ground troops were deployed to the border.

Israeli forces have not entered Gaza following a barrage of artillery and air strikes in the north of Gaza, according to Al Jazeera.

Have Israeli troops actually entered the Gaza strip?

Al Jazeera and other news outlets with reporters on ground are questioning whether Israel’s military has actually entered Gaza.

Internal miscommunication early on Friday morning led to Israeli Defense Forces announcing that its air and ground troops were “attacking in the Gaza Strip.”

However, that was clarified later by the IDF that ground operations against Palestinian militants had started but that they had not entered Gaza.

On Friday local time, Israeli Defense Forces announced that its air and ground troops are “attacking in the Gaza Strip.”

Palestinians marked the first day of the Eid al-Fitr religious holiday under heated bombardment.

Gaza’s health ministry saying that 109 people, including 28 children, have been killed since the Israeli offensive began late on Monday.

IDF air and ground troops are currently attacking in the Gaza Strip.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 13, 2021

Militants in Gaza have fired more than one thousand rockets into Israel, with airlines either suspending or diverting flights over fears of planes being shot down.

At least 580 others were injured. Israel has stationed more troops and tanks near Gaza and has approved mobilizing 9,000 more reservist troops, according to AJ+

WATCH as a Hamas rocket aimed at Israel misfires and falls back into Gaza.

But this isn't the 1st time—Hamas misfired 350 rockets in the last 3 days.

These rockets result in the deaths of innocent Gazan civilians.

It's time for the world to hold Hamas accountable. pic.twitter.com/vmhmXTZrl6

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 13, 2021

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operations were targeted at Hamas and would continue “as long as necessary.”

“We give one hundred per cent backing to the police, to the soldiers of the border police and the other security forces,” he said.

It comes as Israel’s Defense Minister says the country has “many, many more targets” and no time limit when it comes to military operations.

“The army will continue to attack to bring a total, long-term quiet.”

Israel’s Defense Minister

The violence in Gaza erupted on Monday after Israeli air strikes killed several senior Hamas commanders and destroyed three multi-story buildings.

https://twitter.com/ayaat_wael/status/1392988585356374019

As the situation worsens in Gaza, tensions are also spreading throughout several Israeli cities, with Arab and Jewish citizens clashing and rioting on the streets.

“I say explicitly: we will continue to defend and continue to attack until the fire is stopped and we will ensure long-term silence,”

Israel’s Defense Minister says.

Why now?

It comes as Palestinians plead with the United Nations to live up to its responsibility and maintain international peace and security.

Hamas controls Gaza, while Fatah controls the West Bank.

Then there’s the Abraham accords signed in the final months of President Trump’s administration, where relations were normalised between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain.

The situation in Gaza is at breaking point, following the UN yesterday making a stark warning that the violence may turn into a “full-scale war”.

The UN Security Council will meet to discuss the situation

The UN has warned that the violence in Gaza could escalate into a “full-scale war” after Israel carried out heavy airstrikes on Gaza and Palestinian militants fired hundreds of rockets into Israel.

The UN Security Council will meet to discuss the situation in Israel and Gaza on Sunday. The U.S. will continue to actively engage in diplomacy at the highest levels to try to de-escalate tensions.

— Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (@USAmbUN) May 13, 2021

U.S. President Joe Biden has spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and says “Israel has a right to defend itself” amid a barrage of rockets fired from Gaza, according to AFP.

“Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory.”

u.s president biden

The United States dispatched a senior diplomat on Wednesday to urge Israelis and Palestinians to calm the worst flare-up in violence between them in years, says Reuters.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke about the matter.

Meanwhile in Australia,  Foreign Minister Marise Payne has followed the U.S lead in calling for an end to escalating violence between Israel and Gaza.