Israel’s defence minister declared that “Gaza is burning” on Tuesday after his forces launched a ground offensive across Gaza City, with Palestinian officials reporting a heavy aerial bombardment overnight.
Hospital officials told The Independent that at least 20 Palestinians had been killed and more than 120 injured, with women and children making up most of the victims. “It was a very tough night,” said Dr Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Shifa hospital in Gaza city.
Israel’s Arabic language spokesperson confirmed the expansion of Israel’s operation in Gaza had begun, just over a week after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told people in the city to “leave now”.
An Israeli military official described Gaza as an “urban battlefield” and said Israel had control of 40 per cent of the areas around Gaza City – “but not yet the centre”.
“Last night we transitioned into the next phase, or the main phase, of the plan for Gaza City,” the official said. “Our objectives remain unchanged: bringing home the hostages and dismantling Hamas.”
The offensive began even as US secretary of state Marco Rubio visited Jerusalem, where he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Israeli prime minister. Mr Rubio acknowledged the start of operations in Gaza City and stressed the need for an immediate end to the conflict, and one that eliminates Hamas. Earlier in the visit he promised America’s support for Israel was “unwavering”.
“The Israelis have begun to take operations there. So we think we have a very short window of time in which a deal can happen,” Mr Rubio said before leaving for Qatar. “We don’t have months anymore, and we probably have days and maybe a few weeks to go.”
Tuesday’s developments on the ground came as a two-year UN probe found that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. The investigation, carried out by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, concluded that Israel had “flagrantly disregarded” international law and “orchestrated a genocidal campaign for almost two years now”.
In its 72-page report, the UN Commission found that Israel has committed four of the five genocidal acts defined by the 1948 Genocide Convention since October 2023. The Commission concluded that Israeli president Isaac Herzog, Mr Netanyahu, and then defence minister Yoav Gallant incited the commission of genocide.
Israel has strongly rejected the report’s findings, calling it “antisemitic… distorted and false”.
Dr Abu Salmiya said the bombing on Monday night targeted several areas in Gaza City, including its northern parts. He said medical teams at Shifa hospital were “exhausted and worn out”.
“The bombing did not stop for a single moment,” he said. “There are still bodies under the rubble.”
Earlier, Mr Netanyahu refused to rule out further strikes on Hamas leaders on foreign soil in the wake of the attack on Qatar that killed six people.
The Israeli leader on Monday argued that every country had the right to “defend itself beyond its borders” while speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem with Mr Rubio. “The principle that terrorists should not have immunity wherever they are, wherever they may be, was not established by me,” Mr Netanyahu said.
