By Et Online

Copyright indiatimes

Israeli military spokesperson, Effie Defrin delivered an address on Tuesday (September 16) confirming that the ground assault has begun in Gaza City with more troops expected to join soon. In his address, Defrin said that the objective of the stage is the return of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas and that the operation will continue until the objectives are achieved. An Israel Defence Forces official said ground troops were moving deeper into the enclave’s main city, and that the number of soldiers would rise in coming days to confront up to 3,000 Hamas combatants the IDF believes are still in the city. Gaza health officials reported at least 70 people had been killed on Tuesday, most of them in Gaza City, as airstrikes swept across the city and tanks advanced.