The Times of Israel reported on Saturday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of the War Council toured several sites in southern Israel to check on the army’s preparations for the expected ground attack on Gaza.

The Israeli website Ynet reported on Saturday that the War Council concluded its meeting at the Southern Command headquarters in Beersheba, according to what was reported by the Arab World News Agency.

The Times of Israel newspaper quoted Israeli Air Force Commander Tomer Bar as saying that the army would strike Hamas during the ground attack “as if it were at full strength.”

He added: “We directed thousands of air strikes against Hamas and dropped thousands of bombs on it, hitting its targets accurately. Despite this, we will deal with it as if it had not been harmed. We will enter (Gaza) with all our might.”

Defense Minister Yoav Galant arrived near the Gaza Strip border late Friday night to meet with army commanders.

The Jerusalem Post newspaper added that Gallant closely followed the readiness of the Israeli forces to carry out a possible ground invasion of the Gaza Strip.

Source: agencies