Israeli tanks on Thursday entered the North Gaza which they describe as a “targeted raid” that hit “numerous terrorist cells, infrastructure and anti-tank missile launch posts”.

Israel Defense Forces said that a column of tanks and infantry had launched an overnight raid into Hamas-controlled Gaza, striking “numerous” targets before retreating to home soil.

The military announced the incursion into the north of the Palestinian territory hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared preparations for a ground war were underway. 

Black-and-white video footage posted by the military showed a column of armoured vehicles and bulldozers winding toward what appeared to be a border fence and breaking through it.

Here are the live updates on the Israel-Hamas war:

An Enforcement Directorate (ED) team late Thursday night arrested sitting West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress leader, Jyotripriya Mallik, in connection with an alleged case of corruption in the public distribution system.

The arrest came a day after the ED conducted searches at Mr Mallick’s residence in Salt Lake, on the outskirts of Kolkata.

As media persons jostled and gathered around the minister while he was being whisked away by the ED sleuths, with the help of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel, the minister said he was the “victim of a grave conspiracy”.

“West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick has been arrested by ED in connection with an alleged case of corruption in rationing distribution,” the agency stated in an official release.

“I am the victim of a grave conspiracy,” the arrested minister was heard telling media persons while he was being escorted out of his Salt Lake residence.

The ED has been carrying out searches in connection with an alleged case of corruption in ration distribution.

Mr Mallick is currently the state minister for Forest Affairs and previously held the portfolio for the Food and Civil Supplies department.

Till the time of filing this report, the ruling Trinamool Congress, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, had not responded to the arrest of its minister.

Earlier this year, the ED had arrested former West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee and his aide Arpita Mukherjee, in connection with the teachers’ recruitment scam, after the recovery of huge cash from the latter’s residence.

Both are facing a probe into the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment scam, according to the ED.

The TMC’s Burbhum district president Anubrata Mondal had also been arrested earlier in connection with a cattle smuggling case.

The chief minister’s nephew and the TMC’s heavyweight leader, Abhishek Banerjee, has also been summoned and questioned by the ED on many occasions in connection with an alleged coal ‘scam’ case.

Cattle attacks continue to occur in Triplicane as owners refuse to control their animals. One incident left a septuagenarian critically injured. The narrow streets of Triplicane are already congested with people, vehicles, and cows, making it difficult for residents to move around. Many interior roads have been taken over by cattle owners who tether their animals to electric posts and junction boxes. The stench from dung and urine is overwhelming, causing residents to avoid certain functions. The government only takes action when someone is seriously injured or killed.