8:03AM IL: Baruch Hashem, the first IDF tanks have reached the former Jewish community of Netzarim, thereby effectively cutting off Gaza City from the remainder of Gaza.

With the tanks in place, along with the bombing of the coastal route and the Salah a-Din Route, IDF troops in the first 13 hours of the ground forces operation have reached a major objective as they begin slicing Hamas-controlled Gaza into sections, part of the process of disarming the terrorists and destroying the rocket-firing infrastructure.

The cutting off of Gaza city is a major step, but as Brig.-Gen. (reserves) Avigdor Kahalani reports on Sunday morning, this is a relatively easy step compared to what lies ahead for soldiers in the unfolding operation. Kahalani and other senior commanders stress that tanks must operate from a distance, targeting the enemy from far enough away that it cannot be placed in the sights of anti-tank fire.

Kahalani stresses that commanders must do their utmost to prevent tanks from entering Gaza City, explaining this makes it a relatively easy target for anyone to shoot anti-tank fire from windows and rooftops.

Channel 2 News is reporting that tanks are cutting off the former Netzarim, working with armored D9 bulldozers.

Kahalani is a decorated war hero and former senior tank commander.

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(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)