Israeli military says it has launched ground offensive in Gaza

Here’s the question: can Israeli boots on the ground put an end to the rockets fired by Hamas, totaling 1,500 over the last 10 days? As Israel defense forces begin their ground assault into Gaza, Israel soldiers put on their game faces in preparation of a dangerous mission to put an end to the barrage of rockets being fired from Gaza into Israel.

“I don’t think I need to explain to why we are doing this,” said one Israel command leader. “We are here to do what we drafted and trained for. To protect the state of Israel. We saw them shooting at our country, it’s an order to keep our families safe on the border.”

Ten days ago, Israel launched an aerial assault on Gaza, hoping air strikes on key targets would silence the rockets being fired into Israel – 300 of which have been intercepted by the highly effective Iron Dome missile defense system. But with the rockets still being launched toward Israel in spite of those Israeli air strikes, a decision has been made to use ground forces to cripple Hamas’ infrastructure – especially its tunnel network – so that those rockets can be launched no more.

“We are going to strike. It is going to be a combined attack from the air and the ground,” said Lt. General Benjamin Gantz of Israeli Defense Forces. “Our forces will operate in close coordination, employing their full strength both along the routes of employment and within the area itself to achieve operational control in the area, continuing to strike targets in the Gaza Strip. Our defense systems will remain alert. We are doing everything in our capacity, with the appropriate force as proud Israeli soldiers. Good luck to all of us.”

According to the United Nations over the past 10 days, 230 Palestinians have been killed, including 50 children. One Israeli has died. United Nations Security General Ban Ki Moon issued the following statement when news of the Israeli ground invasion was announced.

“I urge Israel to do far more to stop civilian casualties. There can be no military solution to this conflict.”

The current conflict between Israel and Hamas was sparked by the kidnapping and murders of three Israeli teenagers.