Israel-Gaza updates: Israeli forces preparing for 'wide range of offensive plans'

United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warmly greeted each other before the second day of NATO sessions at its Brussels headquarters.

Austin invoked the conflict in Israel ahead of the meetings, saying "I know you share our outrage at the terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas and also our determination to support Israel's right to defend itself."

Austin and his counterparts are expected to discuss support for Ukraine, NATO's missions and operations in Kosovo and Iraq and will also be briefed on the ongoing situation in Israel by Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, Stoltenberg said.

"On all of these issues, the Middle East, Ukraine, Iraq -- the United States, and you personally, Secretary Austin, provides security and leadership for all the NATO allies, and that is something we really, really appreciate." Stoltenberg said.

Sharing similar sentiments, Austin said that "NATO is as strong and as united as I've ever seen it."

Yuval Patiev, a young Israel Defense Forces commander, recounted to ABC’s David Muir on Wednesday night’s special edition of “20/20” what happened early Saturday morning when he was among the first to respond to the Hamas attacks.

"One terrorist climbed under the tank,” Patiev told Muir of the militants who charged at his unit. “He put an explosive bomb right under my seat.”

The bomb went off and injured the 20-year-old, who is now in a hospital.

“When it exploded, I flew in the air. At that moment, I knew that I broke my leg,” he said.

Fearing he could lose his leg, Patiev took immediate action.

“I told my commander that he should take my tourniquet and should put it on that,” he said, adding, “I just did what they trained us [to do].”

The young soldier’s unit was trapped in their tank for hours, and from his hospital bed, he recalled seeing the faces of the militants who attacked.

“You look at them, and how could you do this to someone? All I saw was hate,” Patiev said. “So we just fought for our lives … and [we were] trying to pray that they won't get to open the tank, won't explode it. And God was with us; that's all I can say."

The IDF announced Thursday morning that it has launched an "extensive attack" on "many centers" of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

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An estimated 220,000 Palestinians are sheltering throughout 92 United Nations relief and refugee facilities Refugees facilities across the Gaza Strip, according to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Guterres called for "rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access now," early Thursday morning, local time.