The spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Ubaida, confirmed that the resistance managed to destroy 22 tanks during the Gaza battle, providing Israel with an accounting of the first day of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip. He stated, "We informed several countries of our intention to release hostages of foreign nationalities." He mentioned that several countries have intervened to secure the release of some prisoners with foreign nationalities, denying Israel's claims of rescuing a soldier from Hamas's grasp. He affirmed, "We were able to kill and injure a number of Israeli soldiers." He further noted, "Our forces confronted the Israeli incursion and engaged in direct clashes with the army, where we used the directed torpedo for the first time in the naval battle." He continued, "The Israeli army advanced into northern Gaza after intense air and ground strikes."