Israeli Ground Operation Underway in Gaza City as Heavy Bombardment Reported
Israeli sources confirmed Tuesday that a ground operation in Gaza City has begun, following hours of heavy bombardment overnight. The escalation came as Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed that the military campaign would continue until Hamas is defeated and hostages are freed.
“Gaza is burning. The IDF is striking the terror infrastructure with an iron fist,” Katz said in a statement. He praised Israeli troops for “fighting valiantly to create the conditions for the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas.” Katz added, “We will not relent and we will not back down, until the mission is completed.”
Palestinian media reported extensive Israeli strikes in Gaza City during the night, leaving widespread destruction. Witnesses described homes reduced to rubble and people trapped beneath collapsed buildings.”
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According to Mahmud Bassal, a spokesperson for Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defense agency, “bombing is still ongoing heavily across Gaza City, and the number of deaths and injuries continues to rise.”
The strikes coincided with strong backing from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reiterated Washington’s support for Israel’s campaign in the territory.
The Israeli military has intensified its focus on Hamas infrastructure in Gaza City in recent weeks, aiming to erode the group’s command centers and operational tunnels. Katz emphasized that the goal is not only to dismantle Hamas’s capabilities but also to establish conditions for the safe return of hostages still held in the enclave.
With the ground operation now underway, attention has shifted to the scale of destruction and humanitarian consequences on the ground. Residents report desperate scenes as families search for survivors under the rubble, while Israeli officials maintain that the offensive is essential to dismantling Hamas’s control.
