Sources in the Palestinian Authority (PA) reported on Friday evening that Israeli tanks had begun entering the Gaza Strip.
According to the reports, gunfire exchanges developed between the troops and armed terrorists.
However, Peter Lerner, a spokesperson for the IDF, denied in a conversation with ABC News that the expanded operations are the official ground invasion that has been expected.
A US official told ABC News the Israelis are launching a more limited incursion and have agreed to provide humanitarian support in conjunction with the operation.
Earlier on Friday evening, IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari announced that the IAF has been intensifying its air strikes in Gaza and added that the IDF ground forces would be intensifying the ground operation on Friday night.
“In recent hours we have increased the strikes in Gaza. The Air Force is attacking underground targets and terrorist infrastructure, very significantly. In continuation of the offensive activity we carried out in the last few days, the ground forces are expanding the ground activity this evening,” said Hagari.
“The IDF works powerfully in all dimensions in order to achieve the goals of the war,” he added.
Hagari also stated, "We are ready to defend in all areas to protect Israel's security interests. We are committed to the national mission of returning all the hostages."
On the reports of negotiations on the return of the hostages, he said, "I suggest not to pay attention to the rumors, this is psychological terrorism by Hamas."
His comments came as CNN reported a large series of explosions which rocked Gaza City Friday night.
CNN’s Nic Robertson reported hearing outgoing tank fire as well as "unusual, intense and sustained" military activity for the past couple of hours.
Multiple residents of Gaza told CNN the air strikes Friday night were “the most intense they have experienced” since the beginning of hostilities nearly three weeks ago.
Meanwhile, the White House said in a statement on Friday that President Joe Biden "was briefed this morning by his national security team on the latest developments in Israel and Gaza."
"Participating in the briefing were National Security Advisor Sullivan, Secretary of State Blinken, Secretary of Defense Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Brown, Director of National Intelligence Haines, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Burns," the white House said.
Overnight Thursday, IDF ground forces, accompanied by IDF fighter jets and UAVs, conducted a targeted raid in the central Gaza Strip. As part of the activity, IDF aircraft and artillery struck terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Shuja'iyya area and throughout the Gaza Strip.
During the activity, the IDF identified and struck numerous terror targets, including anti-tank missile launch sites, military command and control centers, as well as Hamas terrorists.
The troops exited the area at the end of the activity. No IDF injuries were reported.
This marked the second time in two nights that the IDF conducted an overnight targeted raid using tanks in the northern Gaza Strip, as part of preparations for the next stages of combat. The activity was commanded by the Givati Brigade.
(Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)
