Gaza City: The Israeli military has initiated a large-scale ground offensive aimed at occupying Gaza City, signaling a major escalation in the protracted conflict between Israel and Hamas. The operation, reported by Axios and confirmed by Israeli officials, follows weeks of intensive aerial bombardment and artillery strikes on Gaza, raising concerns over a deepening humanitarian crisis in the densely populated enclave.
The offensive comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Gaza City as a critical stronghold of Hamas, the militant group responsible for the surprise attack on Israel in October 2023. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized that the operation seeks to dismantle Hamas’ infrastructure and secure the release of hostages, asserting that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are moving forward with decisive action. Details regarding the scale and specific targets of the ground incursion remain limited, though analysts anticipate intense urban combat in the city’s densely populated districts.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated sharply. Weeks of bombardment have left thousands of residents displaced, with an estimated one million people sheltering in Gaza City. Hospitals are overwhelmed, food and water supplies are scarce, and essential services such as sanitation are operating at reduced capacity. UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, reported that ten of its facilities in Gaza City were struck over the past four days, compounding the plight of civilians already caught in the crossfire.
The escalation has drawn international attention. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Jerusalem to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu, discussing strategies for hostage release and ongoing security operations against Hamas. During his visit, Rubio toured significant religious sites alongside Netanyahu, a move Hamas condemned as provocative. Simultaneously, a summit convened in Qatar by Arab and Islamic states criticized Israel’s recent military actions, warning that the strikes undermine regional stability and jeopardize efforts toward broader peace and normalization agreements.
As Israeli forces advance into Gaza City, the risk to civilian life continues to rise, prompting urgent calls from humanitarian organizations for restraint and protection of noncombatants. The situation remains volatile, with the potential to reshape regional dynamics and further inflame tensions in an already fragile Middle East. The world watches closely as the conflict enters a new and perilous phase.