ISRAEL launched its long-anticipated ground offensive on Gaza City before dawn on Tuesday, hours after visiting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio endorsed its objective of eradicating Hamas from the enclave.
At the same time, a United Nations investigation accused Israel of committing “genocide” in the Palestinian territory and charged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials with incitement.
Overnight, Israeli forces carried out an intense bombardment of Gaza City as troops advanced deeper into the territory’s largest urban centre.
“Last night, we transitioned into the next phase, the main phase of the plan for Gaza City… Forces have expanded ground activity into Hamas’s main stronghold in Gaza, which is Gaza City,” a military spokesman told reporters.
The military estimated that between 2,000 and 3,000 Hamas fighters remain active in the area. Defence Minister Israel Katz declared that Gaza City was “on fire.”
