Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades announced on Thursday successfully targeted an Israeli helicopter that was hovering over the skies of Gaza's Al-Bureij camp with a "Sam 7" missile.

Furthermore, the Resistance group launched a rocket barrage targeting "Tel Aviv" in response to the Israeli massacres against civilians in Gaza, while Israeli media confirmed direct impacts in several sites.

Al Qassam also continued targeting envelope settlements throughout the day using rockets and mortars.

Additionally, Palestinian Islamic Jihad's Al-Quds Brigades intensified their operations as well, launching both rockets and mortar shells at the Karm Abu Salem Israeli military outpost site and the settlements of "Re'im" and "Erez."

Read more: 'Zikim' infiltration; most significant event since October 7

On their part, the Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing military operations as part of the Al-Aqsa Flood. The Resistance group continued to shell Israeli occupation forces' gatherings in settlements surrounding the Strip.

As public talks by Israeli officials regarding a possible ground operation against Gaza are increasing, the Al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades released a short video on their Telegram page vowing that the Israeli occupation army "will be defeated" in case it attempted to carry out the invasion.

بالفيديو | رسالة لألوية الناصر صلاح الدين تتوعد من خلالها الاحتلال في حال الاجتياح البري لقطاع #غزة.

"ستهزمون אתם מובסים"#الميادين #طوفان_الأقصى pic.twitter.com/j0MuOjmH40

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) October 26, 2023

The Israeli Prime Minister had previously promised to uproot Hamas from the Gaza Strip, however, expectations have dwindled as the Israeli occupation forces have concentrated their assets in the northern part of the Gaza Strip fearing an escalation by Hezbollah.

Read more: Israeli media: Prisoner deal possible, ground invasion option remains

Military experts say a minimal attack on the Strip is the most feasible option for occupation forces after acknowledging that the Resistance has heavily fortified its defensive structures.

Al-Qassam Brigades announced earlier this week that their fighters ambushed an armored Zionist force east of Khan Yunis after it had infiltrated the fence and advanced a few meters.

"Our freedom fighters confirm that the Israeli soldiers who were lured into the Khan Yunis ambush left their vehicles and fled east of the fence - that shall be uprooted once day - on foot," said the group in a statement.

The Israeli occupation later admitted casualties among its soldiers in the ambush, saying one soldier was killed and three others were injured.