(TJV NEWS) IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari says the military has ramped up airstrikes in the Gaza Strip in the last few hours: “The Air Force is striking underground targets very significantly. Ground forces are expanding the ground activity this evening.”

“The Air Force is striking underground targets very significantly,” he says, adding that ground forces will “expand” their activity tonight.

For the last two days, IDF infantry forces and tanks have conducted limited raids into the Gaza Strip. Hagari says the IDF will continue to strike Gaza City and surrounding areas in northern Gaza, and renews his call for Palestinians to evacuate to the Strip’s south.

“We are prepared to defend in all arenas. We are acting in order to protect the security interests of the State of Israel,” he says.

Reports are flooding in that the heavies air assault of Hamas targets in Gaza have begun, some sources claim Israel has cut off communications in Gaza, including cell phone service.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are describing the current wave of Israeli strikes across the enclave as “intense and unprecedented”, the most significant since the war began. Reports that communications and internet networks in Gaza have been cut off. pic.twitter.com/POg0OEszeX

— Ariel Oseran (@ariel_oseran) October 27, 2023

 He also that the IDF ground forces would be intensifying the ground operation on Friday night.

The current massive bombing of Gaza pic.twitter.com/8PXg9KDYjN

— Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) October 27, 2023

 Hagari also stated, “We are ready to defend in all areas to protect Israel’s security interests. We are committed to the national mission of returning all the hostages.”

Footage showing massive & non-stop IDF strikes on Gaza tonight. pic.twitter.com/up3r9ppVQA

— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 27, 2023

BREAKING: ISRAELI GROUND INVASION OF GAZA STARTING TONIGHT

Israeli army spokesman:

“We continue to ask the people of Gaza in the north to go south

Ground forces expand their operations tonight” pic.twitter.com/klOu4le80M

— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) October 27, 2023

On the reports of negotiations on the return of the hostages, he said, “I suggest not to pay attention to the rumors, this is psychological terrorism by Hamas.”

Gaza | (taken: 4 min ago) – Israeli bombings on the strip is currently unprecedented.

Helicopters can be heard hovering in various locations as well. pic.twitter.com/5K8wNd78vH

— Younis Tirawi | يونس (@ytirawi) October 27, 2023

His comments came as CNN reported a large series of explosions which rocked Gaza City Friday night. CNN’s Nic Robertson reported hearing outgoing tank fire as well as “unusual,  intense and sustained” military activity for the past couple of hours.

Regional war correspondent Levent Kemal is being widely cited, who said, “Local Palestinian sources report that Israel has notified that it will strike all units of the Shifa Hospital.” A series of IDF public statements on Friday strongly suggest Israel is preparing military action against the hospital, saying that Hamas intentionally places military sites at the hospital and under the ground:

Hamas operates within and hides beneath the largest hospital in Gaza.
Their priorities are clear—and the people of Gaza are not among them. pic.twitter.com/7M4ZqjFyYs

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 27, 2023