Troops sent in that evening remain in the field the next day as bombardment intensifies and communications go down. On 28 October, Benjamin Netanyahu describes the offensive as a second phase of the war, aimed at Hamas’s military and governing capabilities and the return of hostages. Humanitarian agencies struggle to contact their teams.
Israel expands ground operations in the Gaza Strip
The Israeli military announces an expansion of its ground operations in Gaza on 27 October 2023, following several limited incursions.