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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiated a significant ground operation in Gaza City late Tuesday, intensifying its efforts against Hamas militants entrenched in the region.
This U.S.-supported military expansion represents Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s largest ground campaign in Gaza since the conflict erupted following Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023. The IDF’s Operation Gideon’s Chariots II aims to secure Gaza City and involves two divisions, with a third anticipated to join the operation.
“The IDF strikes with an iron fist at the terrorist infrastructure, and IDF soldiers are fighting bravely to create the conditions for the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas,” stated Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. “We will not relent and we will not go back — until the completion of the mission.”
Israel has identified Gaza City as “the main stronghold of Hamas,” estimating that between 2,000 and 3,000 Hamas fighters remain in the area. In the week preceding the ground offensive, the IDF reported conducting airstrikes on over 850 “terror targets” and targeting “hundreds of terrorists” in Gaza City.
Currently, the Israeli military claims to have taken control of 40% of Gaza City.
According to the IDF, more than 350,000 of Gaza City’s approximately 1 million residents had evacuated the area prior to the ground operation, responding to extensive warnings issued by the military. However, the IDF anticipates that at least 200,000 Palestinians will ignore these evacuation orders.
This announcement coincided with a United Nations commission report that accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. “On the basis of circumstantial evidence, the Commission finds that genocidal intent was the only reasonable inference that could be drawn based on the pattern of conduct of the Israeli authorities,” the report stated.
Israel dismissed the report as “fake,” asserting that the authors are “Hamas proxies” relying on “falsehoods laundered and repeated by others.”
Prominent Israeli security officials, including IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and heads of intelligence agencies, reportedly advised against the operation, cautioning that it could jeopardize Israeli hostages in Gaza, lead to significant IDF casualties, fail to dismantle Hamas, and necessitate direct military governance over Gaza.
United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk urged Israel to “stop the carnage,” while foreign ministers from several nations, including the United Kingdom and Germany, criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza City.
In contrast, the U.S. has expressed support for the operation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Netanyahu and senior officials just hours before the offensive commenced. The Trump administration has indicated a desire for a swift resolution to the conflict, contingent on the safe return of all hostages held by Hamas, with around twenty believed to still be alive in Gaza. Trump warned Hamas on Monday against harming the captives or using them as “human shields” prior to the Israeli operation.
“We have to remember who we’re dealing with here — a group dedicated to violence and barbarism,” Rubio remarked during a briefing with Netanyahu. He added, “As much as we may wish for a peaceful, diplomatic solution, we must also prepare for the possibility that it may not happen.” Rubio noted that there is a “very short window of time” for securing a ceasefire deal following the start of Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza City.
Rubio also mentioned his recent discussions with Qatar’s leader regarding a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, as Qatar is mediating due to its connections with both parties. He expressed gratitude to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani for ongoing efforts to broker peace and facilitate the return of hostages. Rubio emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We don’t have months anymore, and we probably have days and maybe a few weeks. So it’s a key moment, an important moment.”
https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1967922516308959369
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115210251262068973
https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1967653767912079515
