Gaza war enters second stage: Netanyahu

Israel’s war with Hamas has entered its “second stage” as its troops and armoured vehicles push into Gaza in an expansion of ground operations, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a press conference in Tel Aviv on Saturday (October 28) night, Netanyahu told Israelis to prepare for a “long and hard” offensive, describing the campaign as the country’s “second war of independence” since 1948.

“This is the second stage of the war whose goals are clear – to destroy Hamas’s governing and military capabilities and to bring the hostages home,” Netanyahu told reporters.

“We are only at the start. We will destroy the enemy above ground and below ground.”

Netanyahu’s comments came as Gaza continued to be under a near-total communications blackout overnight amid intense Israeli bombardment thought to be aimed at clearing the way for troops to push into the enclave.

Palestinian media outlets on Sunday reported that telephone and internet communications were gradually being restored to the enclave._Agencies