Israeli forces began military ground operations in Gaza, particularly the Hamas stronghold of Rafah in an effort to degrade the terror group’s infrastructure, authorities said Thursday. 

The Israel Defense Forces said a ground operation was taking place in the “Shavura” neighborhood, as well as parts of central and northern Gaza. 

An IDF soldier in the Gaza area.  (IDF)

“Incoming rocket sirens sounding off in Israel,” he wrote. “Imagine living under these conditions. Imagine being the Members of Congress voting against what protects Israel from this.”

A holy site for Christians, Muslims and Jews also came under fire from Yemen-based, Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have attached commercial shipping in the Red Sea and U.S. naval forces in solidarity with Hamas, the IDF said. 

Authorities also announced the deaths of Hamas senior leaders and another from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group.