JERUSALEM, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said on Sunday that the army would continue its newly launched ground operation in Gaza until it "breaks" Hamas's militant ability.
The operation, dubbed "Gideon's Chariots," was launched over the weekend and marks Israel's largest ground assault in Gaza since it withdrew from a two-month ceasefire and reimposed a full siege on the enclave in March.
According to Zamir, the operation has three main goals: the first is achieving "operational control" in large areas of Gaza while "clearing the areas of enemy presence and targeting militant infrastructure both above and below ground."
He said the second goal includes displacing the civilian population from combat zones "while undermining Hamas' governance." The third goal is to "strike Hamas' command and control system, target its commanders and destroy the remaining capabilities until its military and governmental collapse," he added.
"Unlike in the past, we are now focusing on an offensive effort in the Gaza Strip and carrying out attacks aimed at achieving a decisive outcome in the areas where we operate," he said.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military's spokesman, Effie Defrin, told a press briefing, "As part of the operation, we will intensify and expand our operational control in the Gaza Strip by bisecting the territory and relocating the population."
He said the operation's "opening strike" was carried out on Saturday night, with five ground divisions now operating in Gaza. He added that "a large-scale" reserve mobilization had been conducted to provide the forces needed for the offensive.
At least 110 people, including women and children, were killed on Sunday in intensive Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian sources. The health authorities in Gaza said all hospitals in the strip are now out of service. Enditem
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