Israel to ‘expand’ Gaza ground operations Friday night, IDF says

The Israeli military will launch its ground invasion tonight, government officials announced Friday.

Ground forces are “expanding their operations tonight”  and are “acting with great force… to achieve the objectives of war,” Israel Defense Forces Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters shortly after Gaza lost power and internet access — leaving millions without the ability to communicate with the outside world as rockets continued to blare overhead.

“The IDF is operating in all dimensions to accomplish the goals of the war,” he said as he urged Palestinians to move to the southern part of the Gaza Strip “where it is much safer.”