Israel is showing ‘classic playbook’ of invasion tactics after Gaza communications are cut and Hamas is hit hard by aerial bombardment, an ex-British military intelligence officer warns

Israel is showing the “classic playbook” of invasion tactics as it cuts Gaza’s communications and carries out airstrikes on military targets, a former British intelligence officer has warned.

Colonel Phillip Ingram claims that if the Jewish nation engages tonight, it could be the start of a long and brutal battle – with casualties among Israeli soldiers and civilians skyrocketing as Hamas uses innocents as “human shields.”

Israeli warplanes tonight unleashed airstrikes of ‘unprecedented’ intensity across all parts of the Gaza Strip, according to observers.

The airstrike, which observers described as much heavier and louder than previous days, according to Hamas, coincided with electricity and communications disruptions in much of the besieged enclave, raising fears that a full-scale Israeli ground invasion was imminent.

Colonel Ingram said, “I fully expected them to cut off communications, including the Internet, as they began their ground invasion.

The Hamas government said Israel has severed “communications and most of the internet” in the Gaza Strip. In the photo: an Israeli Merkava tank in action during maneuvers

Colonel Phillip Ingram (pictured) claims that if the Jewish nation commits tonight, it could be the start of a long and brutal battle

“There have been small raids over the last few nights, with the Israelis probing Hamas defenses.

“They attempted to destroy positions where Hamas could fire anti-tank weapons at them or snipe at them, gather intelligence on where Hamas positions were located and how Hamas would respond to the Israeli raids, and therefore refine their tactics. At the same time, they try to identify where the hostages might be.

“I expected that not long after that – and tonight is not long after that – they would potentially begin a more detailed ground incursion, and the precursor to that would be cutting off communications.

“They will step up their action from the air with their artillery, and we will want to blind Hamas to whatever Israel is going to do.

‘It could be a big bluff tonight, it could be yet another operation.

“It could be the start of a much larger Israeli ground offensive.”

The Hamas government said Israel has severed “communications and most of the internet” in the Gaza Strip.

The Hamas government’s media office accused Israel of taking this measure “to commit massacres with bloody reprisal attacks from the air, land and sea,” as heavy attacks hit northern Gaza.

The airstrike, which observers described as much heavier and louder than previous days, coincided with electricity and communications disruptions in much of the besieged enclave.

The Hamas government’s media office accused Israel of taking the measure “to commit massacres with bloody reprisal attacks from the air, land and sea,” as heavy attacks hit northern Gaza.

According to one report, the Israelis even unleashed “bunker buster” concussion rockets in an attempt to destroy the extensive Hamas tunnel network under Gaza.

The Palestinian Red Crescent, the main relief agency in Gaza, said it was cut off from its operations room in the Gaza Strip due to the internet outage.

Colonel Ingram – who served in the British Army for more than 26 years – continued: “If Israel deploys properly on the ground, they will work until they achieve their objectives – which could take months.

“If this is their main operation, they could be stuck in Gaza for months and the casualties, especially among the Israeli army, could be very high, because Hamas has been preparing for this for at least 12 months.

“We will hear more stories of greater horrors because that is the way they operate.

‘Hamas places military facilities in civilian buildings. Hamas wants civilians to die.

“They want the world to see photos of women and children being pulled from the rubble after an attack.”

According to one report, the Israelis even unleashed “bunker buster” concussion rockets in an attempt to destroy the extensive Hamas tunnel network under Gaza.

The two-stage munition shakes the ground and the first part of the warhead penetrates the ground, allowing the second part to reach deep below the surface.

The report in the Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds could not be verified.

But the former military intelligence officer said Israel’s stepped-up actions could be a precursor to further operations.

He added: “This could be a major Israeli hostage rescue operation.

“Special forces will be in charge. Cutting off communication, shutting down the internet, cutting off the ability to communicate is a classic script for this.’