Israel, Palestine: Laying the ground.

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Gaza panel from the Church of St Stephen mosaics, c785, Umm ar-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a), Jordan.

ISRAEL. PALESTINE. Laying the ground.

Israeli forces prepare for a ground assault.

Israeli troops and tanks briefly entered northern Gaza on Thursday, a move the Israel said was to “prepare the battlefield”. The US launched airstrikes inside Syria early Friday on…