JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday instructed the military to begin a ground offensive in Gaza, an official statement from his office said.
"The prime minister and defense minister have instructed the IDF to begin a ground operation tonight in order to hit the terror tunnels from Gaza into Israel," the statement said.
Reuters witnesses and Gaza residents reported heavy artillery and naval shelling along the Gaza border.
(Writing by Maayan Lubell; Editing by Louise Ireland)