Israel mobilizes for ground invasion in Gaza

The Israeli military on Thursday called up 9,000 reservists and canceled leave for all combat units as the threat of war escalated. Early on Friday, the military said air and ground troops employed artillery and tank fire from the border, triggering deafening blasts. Since the fighting began Monday, Israel has hit more than 650 targets in Gaza, including three high-rise buildings. Gaza militants fired nearly 2,000 rockets into Israel.

Any signs of de-escalation? Hamas military spokesman Abu Obeida said the group does not fear a ground invasion and said it would allow the group “to increase our catch” of dead or captive soldiers. Communal fighting between Jewish and Arab mobs continued for the fourth night in the Israeli town of Lod and other cities. Late on Thursday, three rockets from Lebanon landed into the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of northern Israel, threatening to start another front of fighting with Hamas.

Dig deeper: Read Mindy Belz’s WORLD Magazine report on fears of an all-out war.