<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Israeli tanks took part in a "targeted raid" overnight in northern Gaza, the army said in a statement on Thursday, as it prepared its forces for a ground invasion.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>"Overnight, the IDF conducted a targeted raid using tanks in the northern Gaza Strip, as part of preparations for the next stages of combat," the army said.</div><div><br></div><div>"The soldiers exited the area at the end of the activity."</div><div><br></div><div>Late Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that along with the heavy bombing campaign of Hamas-controlled Gaza, "we are preparing for a ground offensive".</div><div><br></div><div>On October 7, throngs of Hamas gunmen poured from Gaza into Israel, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 222 more, according to Israeli officials.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 6,500 Gazans already have died in Israel's aerial assault, according to figures released by the Hamas-controlled health ministry in the territory.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the Israeli military, during the overnight raid, "soldiers located and struck numerous terrorists, terror infrastructure and anti-tank missile launch posts, and operated to prepare the battlefield".</div><div><br></div><div>A spokesman for the military confirmed to AFP this was not the first time Israeli soldiers and tanks had entered Gaza for limited incursions since October 7. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>