A vague statement tweeted by the Israeli Defense Forces gave the impression that its troops had entered Gaza – media outlets around the world reported on the ground.
“The IDF air and ground forces are currently attacking in the Gaza Strip,” the tweet read in English, with many outlets to assume that ground troops were operated in the enclave, The Jerusalem Post reported.
In Hebrew, the tweet was also vague but more specific – announcing heavy attacks on Gaza in which ground forces launched artillery barrages, but not a military entry, according to the newspaper.
A military spokesman was contacted by a reporter from The Times of Israel, who was told that there were no Israeli soldiers in Gaza.
Army, tanks and cannons were near the border, but on the Israeli side, Reporter was informed.
The IDF’s international spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, claimed responsibility for the tweet, but confirmed that ground troops had participated in an operation from Israeli territory targeting the tunnels under the border.
He said, “There is no land inside Gaza at this time.”
IDF Chief Spokesperson, Brig. General Hidai Zilberman said that the military was investigating what happened due to the misunderstanding.
Meanwhile, Channel 12 claims that the vague tweet was not a mistake at all, but rather a ritual meant to drag Hamas fighters into underground tunnels, with the IDF targeting heavy bombings overnight, the Times of Israel reported.
With post wires
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