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Israel has launched a major ground assault on Gaza City, with Defence Minister Israel Katz declaring “Gaza is burning” as the military pushes deeper into the enclave. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said thousands of soldiers will confront an estimated 3,000 Hamas fighters still operating in the city. Officials claim the operation aims to dismantle Hamas infrastructure and secure the release of hostages.
The offensive comes despite mounting international pressure. A United Nations Commission of Inquiry accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, calling the war morally and legally intolerable. Israel dismissed the claims as “fake.” European leaders are preparing new sanctions, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed American support for Israel, warning of the conflict’s uncertain path.
Palestinian health authorities reported at least 75 deaths on Tuesday, including families fleeing south when their vehicle was struck. Thousands more continue to escape Gaza City, many on foot, donkey carts, or overcrowded vehicles. However, some residents refuse to leave, fearing there is no safe refuge. Hunger also worsens as Gaza’s health ministry confirmed over 428 deaths from malnutrition, though Israel disputes the figures.
Scenes of devastation spread across Gaza City, where entire residential towers and mosques lie in ruins. Survivors search for bodies under rubble, describing the destruction as the erasure of their community’s memories. The IDF says 40% of the city’s population has evacuated, but over a million people remain displaced in overcrowded camps in the south.
Inside Israel, some military commanders have warned the assault could endanger hostages or trap soldiers in urban combat. According to Israeli officials, Army Chief Eyal Zamir urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pursue a ceasefire. The conflict, ignited by Hamas’s October 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis, has since claimed over 64,000 Palestinian lives, Gaza’s health ministry reports.
