Israel Gaza live: Gaza in blackout as IDF claims to have killed Hamas paraglider commander

The Israeli military has said its ground forces are “expanding their activity” in the Gaza Strip tonight, as lines of communication in the enclave have gone down.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the army’s spokesman, said aerial attacks had been targeting Hamas tunnels and other targets.

“In addition to the attacks that we carried out in recent days, ground forces are expanding their activity this evening,” he said. “The IDF is acting with great force … to achieve the objectives of the war.”

Israel has amassed hundreds of thousands of troops along the border with Gaza ahead of an expected ground offensive against the Hamas militant group.

Airstrikes have intensified since nightfall and the territory’s internet and mobile communications services collapsed on Friday evening.

Israel’s military said on Saturday it had stopped a surface-to-air missile fired from Lebanon at one of its drones, and was responding by striking the launch site.

“The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) thwarted a surface-to-air missile that was fired from Lebanon toward an IDF UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). In response, the IDF is striking the origin of the missile’s fire,” it said.

Asked about foreign actors helping stoke unrest in the UK, foreign secretary James Cleverly said: “Sadly I do think that a minority, a small minority within those protests, have got very much more negative aims.”

The cabinet minister told protesters: “Be conscious of this and be conscious about disinformation and manipulation.”

Mr Cleverly added: “To those protesting, I would say that they should recognise that it is possible to be completely condemning of Hamas’s atrocities on the 7th October and also be supportive of Palestinian people.”

Foreign secretary James Cleverly said Hamas do not want a ceasefire, as he defended the government’s rejection of calls for one.

“We want to see this resolved – we want to see Israel safe, peaceful and secure,” he told broadcasters.

“As yet, I have seen or heard nothing from Hamas that gives me any confidence that they either desire or would abide by calls a ceasefire.”

The UN General Assembly approved a resolution calling for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza. The UK government – which has called for a “humanitarian pause” – abstained from the motion, and criticised it failure to include unequivocal condemnation of Hamas’ terrorist attacks.

Hamas has said its militants are ready to confront Israeli attacks with “full force” after Israel announced it was expanding ground operations on Friday.

Their armed wing said: “The al Qassam brigades and all the Palestinian resistance forces are completely ready to confront [Israel’s] aggression with full force and frustrate its incursions.”

“Netanyahu and his defeated army will not be able to achieve any military victory.”

Israel is expanding its ground operation in Gaza, with infantry and armoured vehicles backed by “massive” strikes from the air and sea, a military spokesman has said.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Saturday that “the forces are still on the ground and are continuing the war”.

Earlier on Saturday, the military had released videos showing columns of armoured vehicles moving slowly in open sandy areas of Gaza, the first visual confirmation of ground troops.

Previously, troops had conducted brief nightly ground incursions before returning to Israel.

An IDF spokesperson has told a news conference its military entered northern Gaza and expanded ground operations overnight, with its forces still in the field.

For those who have travelled south, humanitarian aid will increase, spokesperson Daniel Hagari said.

“More trucks carrying food, medicine and water will enter. Anybody in that area, which is a safe and protected area, will receive [them].”

The number of aid trucks has not been specified, and comes after Israel placed a complete blockade on the besieged enclave, cutting off electricity, medical supplies, fuel and water.

The Israeli Defence Forces have shared a video on social media of ground forces in the Gaza Strip. Tanks can be seen entering the besieged enclave, which comes after a night of heavy bombardment with communication services collapsing.