TEL AVIV, October 28. /TASS/. Israeli troops have crossed into the Gaza Strip to eliminate the radical Palestinian organization Hamas and to release the hostages captured during Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7 and held in the enclave since then, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

"Citizens of Israel, last night our ground troops went through the Gaza gates to enter the den of evil. It is a war with clearly defined objectives, which are to ruin Hamas’ power and have the hostages back," he said in a televised address to the nation.