Israeli PM Netanyahu visits military frontline near Gaza, says 'next stage is coming,' report

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the military frontlines near Gaza on Saturday where he was heard saying, “the next stage is coming," according to reports. 

Netanyahu reportedly said this to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) servicemen during his visit to the area near Gaza, in reference to a counterattack against Hamas. These remarks came shortly after the IDF warned "anyone coming near the [Gaza] border will be shot,” with troops conducting “small raids," in the area, according to CNN. 

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told the outlet that the IDF is “preparing for the next steps."

The Israeli air force took out two top Hamas military leaders overnight, according to the New York Post. Hamas claimed that nine hostages were killed during those attacks. Israel also said they had recovered the bodies of several missing citizens during a raid on Gaza and that their remains had been transported back to Israel, according to the outlet.

This report comes shortly after Israel's announcement that it had killed a top Hamas militant.

The Israeli Air Force said it used a drone to kill Ali Qadhi, a commander in the Najaba force of Hamas, after obtaining intelligence from the Shin Bet security agency. 

"Ali Qadhi led the inhumane, barbaric October 7 massacre of civilians in Israel," IDF announced. "We just eliminated him. All Hamas terrorists will meet the same fate."

Qadhi had been arrested by Israel in 2005 for the kidnapping and murder of civilians but was released six years later in a prisoner swap.