Israel launched a long-threatened ground assault on Gaza City on Tuesday, declaring "Gaza is burning" as residents reported the most intense bombardment in two years of conflict.
An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) official said ground troops were moving deeper into the enclave's main city, and that the number of soldiers would rise in the coming days to confront an alleged 3,000 Hamas members the IDF claims are still in the city.
"Gaza is burning," Defense Minister Israel Katz posted on X. "The IDF strikes with an iron fist at the ... infrastructure and IDF soldiers are fighting bravely to create the conditions for the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas."
In launching the assault, Israel's government defied European leaders, threatening sanctions and warnings from even some of Israel's own military commanders that it could be a costly mistake. But Washington offered its apparent blessing, conveyed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
In the latest expression of international alarm, a U.N. Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, incited by top officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel called the assessment "scandalous" and "fake."
