Israeli forces pressed further into Gaza City on Tuesday, launching a large-scale ground assault that began before dawn. The move came shortly after visiting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced Washington’s support for Israel’s stated objective of dismantling Hamas in the territory.
The offensive unfolded under the shadow of serious allegations. A United Nations investigation accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza, naming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior leaders as responsible for incitement. The claims have fueled sharp condemnation from international rights bodies and heightened global scrutiny of Israel’s campaign.
Overnight, Gaza’s largest urban hub was rocked by intense bombardments as Israeli troops advanced. “We’ve now entered the main phase of our plan for Gaza City,” an Israeli military official told reporters, confirming that troops were pushing towards the city’s centre. Military estimates suggest between 2,000 and 3,000 Hamas fighters are still operating in the area.
Defence Minister Israel Katz described Gaza City as “on fire,” insisting the Israel Defense Forces were striking Hamas “with an iron fist.” According to military figures, nearly 40 percent of Gaza City’s residents have fled southwards, though thousands remain trapped amid the fighting.
Eyewitnesses spoke of relentless airstrikes that have left much of the city in ruins. In the northern districts, only mounds of rubble remained where homes once stood. “Why kill children sleeping safely, tearing them apart like that?” asked Abu Abd Zaquout, who said rescuers were pulling children’s remains from shattered buildings.
Rising Casualties and Accusations
Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that at least 36 people were killed on Tuesday alone, though media restrictions in the enclave make independent verification difficult.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry said evidence shows “genocide is occurring and continuing” in Gaza. Navi Pillay, who heads the commission, stated that official Israeli rhetoric and the military’s conduct demonstrate intent to destroy Palestinians as a group. The report pointed directly to Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant as figures who have “incited the commission of genocide.”
Israel dismissed the findings, calling the report “false and distorted,” and demanded the commission’s immediate dissolution. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk, however, said growing evidence cannot be ignored, stressing it is ultimately for international courts to decide.
Across the globe, reactions have been sharp. The European Union warned that Israel’s ground offensive risked worsening an already “catastrophic” humanitarian crisis, while Britain said the assault would “kill more civilians, deepen bloodshed and endanger hostages still held by Hamas.”
US Stance and Diplomatic Maneuvers
Despite rising criticism, Rubio reaffirmed US support during his meeting with Netanyahu. He said Washington still favours a diplomatic solution under which Hamas would demilitarise but admitted that might not be possible.
Speaking before leaving for Qatar, Rubio urged the Gulf state to continue mediation efforts, even after Israel reportedly targeted Hamas leaders gathered there to consider a truce proposal. “If there’s any country in the world that can help end this through negotiation, it’s Qatar,” he said.
The US official’s visit came just ahead of a UN summit, where France and several other Western governments are expected to push for recognition of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu, a fierce opponent of such recognition, hinted Israel could take “unilateral steps” in response. Rubio dismissed the move as “largely symbolic.”
The ongoing war traces back to the October 2023 Hamas attack that left 1,219 people dead in Israel, mostly civilians. Since then, Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed more than 64,000 people, according to figures from the territory’s health ministry — numbers the United Nations regards as credible.
