Everyone across the world knew that Israel would have to go into Gaza in order to root out Hamas. It was just a matter of time. Has that time finally come?

The reports are coming out that a new “phase” has begun the war. Israel has already conducted what they called “raids” into Gaza, but brought their troops back. Now, it sounds like the ground war may have begun, according to Trey Yingst of Fox News.

The war between Israel and Hamas has entered the “next phase,” Fox News reporter Trey Yingst reported from Southern Israel on Friday evening local time.

“I cannot confirm a ground invasion has begun but a new phase has begun,” he reported live on air.“

Tonight there will be Israeli forces inside the Gaza strip” whether or not it is a full ground invasion, he added.

He stressed, “We have not seen anything like this,” adding that Friday evening is “unlike any other night we have covered.”

He said a source inside Gaza told him that “Gaza tonight is alone” and the millions of “innocent bystanders” there feel “terrified.”

Yingst added that Israel’s military said it is increasing air strikes and continuing with plan to completely destroy Hamas.

Mark Regev, a senior advisor to Prime Minister Netanyahu also told Fox, “We are beefing up the pressure on Hamas. Hamas is feeling Israel’s might.”

In the midst of this new offensive, the Associated Press is reporting that all internet and cell connections have been lost in Gaza.

Explosions from a barrage of airstrikes lit up the sky over Gaza City after nightfall Friday when the blackout in internet, cellular and landline services hit. Already plunged into darkness after most electricity was cut off weeks ago, Palestinians were now thrown into isolation, huddled in homes and shelters, with food and water supplies running out. The Palestinian telecom provider, Paltel, said the “complete disruption” was due to bombardment.

Casualties from new airstrikes could not be immediately known in the information blackout. The Red Crescent said it cannot reach its medical teams and that residents can no longer call ambulances, meaning rescuers will have to chase the sound of explosions to find those wounded from strikes. International aid groups said they were only able to reach a few staff using satellite phones.

This led to a trending topic on Twitter/X, with Hamas apologists trying to get Elon Musk to give Starlink access to Gaza.
https://twitter.com/__asihatun__1/status/1717978105841692970
Hmmm, I’m pretty sure Hamas has electricity, water, food, medicine, fuel, and internet. Maybe tell the elected government of Gaza to provide for their people? They always seem to have enough fuel for rockets. And no internet access means that we are going to miss out on the daily antics of Hamas crisis actors, who are dying one day and miraculously healed the next.

Palestinian blogger “miraculously” healed in one day from "Israeli bombing".

Yesterday, he was “hospitalized,” today, he is walking and walking like nothing happened.

I don't watch Netflix because Pallywood propaganda is the actual comedy. pic.twitter.com/jM638B9KqY

— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) October 26, 2023

If the ground offensive phase has really begun, brace yourself for it to be long and brutal. And yes, there will be civilian casualties. That is the nature of war. No less than John Kirby (!) said that yesterday.

OMG I can't believe I'm saying this, but….go John Kirby?

TV Globo’s @RKrahenbuhl: “So, besides saying that he doesn't have confidence in these numbers, the President went further to say that innocents will die and that this is the price of the war. You also said that.”

Kirby:… pic.twitter.com/PhB5SxEHTe

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 26, 2023

And Israel is fully braced for the casualties on their side.

Israeli military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said ground forces were “expanding their activity” Friday evening in Gaza and “acting with great force … to achieve the objectives of the war.” Israel says its strikes target Hamas fighters and infrastructure and that the militants operate from among civilians, putting them in danger.

Israel has amassed hundreds of thousands of troops along the border with Gaza ahead of an expected ground offensive. Earlier Friday, the military said ground forces conducted their second hourslong incursion inside Gaza in as many days, striking dozens of militant targets over the past 24 hours.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told a small group of foreign reporters that Israel expects a long and difficult ground offensive into Gaza soon. It “will take a long time” to dismantle Hamas’ vast network of tunnels, he said, adding that he expected a lengthy phase of lower-intensity fighting as Israel destroys “pockets of resistance.”

His comments pointed to a potentially grueling and open-ended new phase of the war after three weeks of relentless bombardment. Israel has said it aims to crush Hamas’ rule in Gaza and its ability to threaten Israel. But how Hamas’ defeat will be measured and an invasion’s endgame remain unclear. Israel says it does not intend to rule the tiny territory of 2.3 million Palestinians but not who it expects to govern — even as Gallant suggested a long-term insurgency could ensue.

No one knows what a post-Hamas Gaza will look like, especially as Hamas’s leaders hide in Qatar. No one knows if the Israeli hostages will be found alive. No one knows how many innocent lives will be lost. But destroying Hamas’s ability to attack Israel is a necessity.

This post will be updated as events occur.

Featured image: flag of Israel by edu_castro27 via Pixabay, cropped and modified, Pixabay license