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Israel has launched its long-threatened ground offensive into the densely packed streets of Gaza City, military officials have confirmed.
One Israel Defense Forces (IDF) official said that troops had begun what he called the “main phase” of the offensive, with an overnight advance from the outskirts towards the city centre.
“Last night we began deepening our operations deeper into Gaza City,” the IDF official said. “It’s a gradual thing. It is not a black or white thing. But yesterday was a big step forward … in operations on the ground.”
“This phase is defined by a coordinated and gradual manoeuvre combining precise intelligence, air and ground forces targeting Hamas’s central stronghold and aimed at dismantling its grip in this area,” the official said, adding that IDF troops were expecting to meet significant resistance from up to 3,000 Hamas and allied fighters in Gaza City.
“Some of them, we understand, have been there since the beginning of the war and are preparing to engage with our forces above ground and underground,” he said.
The ground assault was unleashed on a morning when a UN panel of human rights experts published a report accusing Israel of committing genocide.
“It is clear that there is an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza through acts that meet the criteria set forth in the genocide convention,” said Navi Pillay, the chair of the commission of inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel.
Israel’s foreign ministry rejected the commission’s report as “distorted and false”.
Israel Katz, the defence minister, declared in an early morning post on the social media platform X: “Gaza is burning. The IDF is striking terror infrastructure with an iron fist.”
“We will not relent until the mission is completed,” Katz added.
Gaza City residents reported a night of intense bombardment before the ground assault was launched. The IDF believes 40% of the estimated 1 million population of Gaza City and its outskirts, have so far left after Israeli evacuation orders. Israel warned those remaining to follow and to flee southwards.
The Arabic-language spokesperson for the IDF, Col Avichay Adraee, announced: “The IDF has begun dismantling Hamas terrorist infrastructure in Gaza City.”
“Gaza City is a dangerous combat zone. Remaining in the city endangers you,” he said on social media.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, confirmed on Tuesday that “a powerful operation in Gaza” had begun overnight, adding that “Israel is at a crucial stage.”
Netanyahu was speaking at a hearing of his corruption trial in a Tel Aviv court, and used the offensive as an argument why he could not attend long or frequent court sessions. His critics have long argued he has prolonged the Gaza war to put off elections, stay in office and thereby preserve his legal immunity.
The ground assault was launched in the immediate wake of a two-day visit from the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who had pledged “unwavering” US support for Israel.
As part of what has been seen in Israel as a US green light for the operation, Donald Trump used his social media platform, Truth Social, on Monday night to spread an unconfirmed report that Hamas had brought some of the estimated 20 surviving Israeli hostages up to street level to act as human shields.
Trump told Hamas: “Don’t let this happen or, ALL ‘BETS’ ARE OFF.”
