In a bold move, Israel announced the onset of its long-expected ground operation into Gaza City this Tuesday, dramatically stating, ‘Gaza is burning.’
According to an Israeli military spokesperson, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have made significant progress into the heart of Gaza City, the biggest urban area in the enclave, where a mass evacuation has been ordered for hundreds of thousands of residents.
Although the military has been tight-lipped on specifics, they confirmed that they are actively targeting Hamas’s terror infrastructure within Gaza City, urging civilians to prioritize their safety.
Defence Minister Israel Katz took to social media platform X, posting, ‘Gaza is burning.’ He emphasized that the IDF is delivering powerful strikes against Hamas and positioned soldiers to create circumstances favorable for the release of hostages captured during the conflict.
Bombing efforts have heightened dramatically in the last couple of days, with large-scale explosions contributing to the destruction of numerous homes. Naval boats joined tanks and aircraft in the assaults against locations along the coast.
As Prime Minister Netanyahu took the stand in his ongoing corruption trial, he stated, ‘We have initiated a significant operation in Gaza.’
During a visit this past Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed robust support for Israel’s aggressive stance, reiterating the nation’s commitment to eliminating the threat from Hamas despite a desire for diplomatic resolutions.
According to Rubio, as much as the U.S. hopes for a peaceful end, readiness for alternative scenarios must be considered, advocating for Hamas’s immediate disarmament and hostage release as non-negotiable for peace.
Reports indicate at least 24 fatalities since the beginning of the operation, most occurring in Gaza City. Netanyahu recently gave directives for military action to capture the city, seen as the final stronghold of the group responsible for the October 2023 surprise attack on Israel, which instigated the current conflict.
Despite earlier destruction in Gaza City during the early war phases, around a million Palestinians had returned to their homes in the debris. This renewed operation forces a near-total confinement of the population into temporary shelters along the southern coast – a zone categorized by Israel as a humanitarian area.
Israeli forces previously stationed near Gaza City have now escalated their advances into urban interactions, with estimates suggesting that roughly 320,000 individuals have fled while about 650,000 still remain amid ongoing warnings of heavy bombardments.
Political discourse in Israel frames this increased assault as part of a strategy to obliterate Hamas, with Netanyahu declaring the group must disarm and relinquish any dos of power in the region.
In recent weeks, significant structures in Gaza City and the suburbs have faced extensive bombardment, with a notable toll taken on high-rise buildings.
International observers and humanitarian advocates accuse Israel of conducting actions leading to large-scale displacement and criticizes the appalling living conditions in the limited areas where people are forced to relocate, amidst severe food shortages.
Conversely, certain Israeli military leaders expressed doubts about the operations, cautioning that additional offensives might endanger the lives of hostages held by Hamas and could pose a risk to their troops.
During a recent gathering convened by Netanyahu, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir advised seeking a ceasefire, a sentiment echoed by intelligence sources familiar with the discussions.
Outside Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, freed individual families congregated, highlighting concerns for family members believed to still be hostages amidst escalating military actions.
Anat Angrest, whose son is one among the 20 life-known remaining hostages, criticized Netanyahu’s decisions, arguing that conducting further operations has jeopardized lives and delayed potential negotiations necessary for their retrieval.
Since the surprise attack conducted by Hamas in October 2023, identified death totals amount to 1,200 Israelis alongside about 251 hostages as per official accounts.
The ripple effect of Israel’s military operations has resulted in extensive casualties, with over 64,000 Palestinians reported dead, alongside assessments indicating severe hunger in parts of the enclave. Present-day Israeli control reaches nearly 75% of Gaza territory.
(Reporting by Steven Scheer and Maayan Lubell from Jerusalem; Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo; contributions by Christian Martinez, Alexander Cornwell, Enas Alashray, and Yomna Ehab; Text composed by Tom Perry; Edited by Peter Graff)
