By LEVI JOHNSON
Israel launched its long-anticipated ground assault on Gaza City before dawn Tuesday, just hours after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged support for its military campaign while urging a swift diplomatic resolution.
The offensive marks the most significant escalation since the war began in October 2023, when Hamas fighters stormed southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Nearly two years later, the Gaza Strip lies in ruins and is facing accusations of genocide.
Israel Pushes Deeper Into Gaza City
Overnight, Israeli forces intensified air and artillery strikes, followed by ground maneuvers into the heart of Gaza City, which the military has described as Hamas’s “main stronghold.”
“We are moving towards the centre,” an Israeli military official confirmed, estimating that 2,000–3,000 Hamas fighters remain entrenched in the area.
Defence Minister Israel Katz declared the city “on fire,” vowing that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would strike “with an iron fist” until Hamas is crushed and hostages are released.
Eyewitnesses described nonstop bombardments, with one resident, 25-year-old Ahmed Ghazal, telling AFP:
“We can hear their screams. The city is already rubble, but they are still bombing.”
Gaza’s civil defence said at least 27 Palestinians were killed on Tuesday alone, though independent verification remains difficult due to restrictions on journalists.
Rubio Balances Support for Israel With Diplomatic Push
Rubio met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday, endorsing Israel’s goal of eliminating Hamas but stressing the urgency of diplomacy.
“We think we have a very short window… maybe days, maybe weeks. We don’t have months anymore,” Rubio said before flying to Qatar.
The U.S. diplomat acknowledged Hamas’s leverage with hostages and admitted Washington still prefers a demilitarisation deal over all-out war. But he cautioned:
“Sometimes when you’re dealing with a group of savages like Hamas, that’s not possible.”
Rubio urged Qatar—despite being targeted in Israeli strikes last week—to continue mediation efforts, calling it “the one country that could help end this through negotiation.”
Hostage Families Fear for Their Loved Ones
A group representing the hostages’ families accused Netanyahu of sabotaging talks by ordering the Gaza City offensive.
“He is doing everything to ensure there is no deal and not to bring them back,” the group said in a statement, adding they were “terrified” for their relatives.
Rubio, who met families in Jerusalem, admitted that “if there were no hostages and no civilians in the way, this war would have ended a year and a half ago.”
UN Probe: Israel Committing Genocide
In a damning development, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) declared that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, accusing Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant of incitement.
Commission chief Navi Pillay said explicit statements by Israeli leaders and the military’s actions show intent “to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a group.”
Israel rejected the findings as “distorted and false” and demanded the commission’s “immediate abolition.”
Rising Diplomatic Pressure
Rubio’s visit comes as France prepares to host a UN summit next week, where several Western nations are expected to formally recognise a Palestinian state, citing frustration with Israeli intransigence.
Meanwhile, Arab and Islamic leaders at the Doha emergency summit this week warned of “catastrophic consequences” if Israel continues its strikes beyond Gaza, especially after the controversial air raid on Doha that killed Hamas leaders and a Qatari citizen.
What’s Next?
With Israeli tanks pushing deeper into Gaza City, civilian casualties mounting, and diplomatic rifts widening, the conflict is entering a dangerous new phase.
For many Gazans, the future remains uncertain.
“We don’t know where to go,” said one displaced man. “There is no safe place left.”
