Summary
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel's ground operation in Gaza marks the "second stage" of what he says will be a "long and difficult" war with Hamas

Speaking in a televised address, he confirms Israeli commanders are deployed "all over the Gaza Strip" as heavy bombing continues

Leaflets have been dropped over Gaza City warning residents the area is now a "battlefield" and they must leave for the south

Civilians in Gaza remain cut off from the outside world, because phone lines and the internet are down for most people

Turkey's leader accused Israel of war crimes - Netanyahu responded angrily by pulling out diplomats and saying the IDF was a "moral army"

Israel has been bombing Gaza since the 7 October Hamas attacks that killed 1,400 people and saw 229 people kidnapped as hostages

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 8,000 people have been killed since Israel's retaliatory bombing began

Source: BBC

BDST: 0757 HRS, OCT 29, 2023
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