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Gaza ground offensive intensifies: Israeli forces advance deeper

Israeli forces advance deeper into Gaza City as ground operations intensify. IDF targets Hamas positions while civilians evacuate amid international condemnation.

Gaza ground offensive intensifies: Israeli forces advance deeper
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The advance of the Israeli military in Gaza continues, with ground forces invading deeper into the city. Israeli ground forces have reached areas they had never reached before, with Israel’s presence significantly increasing in the region. The ground operation, supported by air power, did not stop throughout the night, striking targets at various points in central Gaza. Meanwhile, civilians have begun evacuating Gaza City since Monday, with estimates suggesting 350,000 people have started moving south.

Read: Israel: IDF and Netanyahu confirm launch of ground operation in Gaza – Response to UN genocide report (Video)

Israeli operation in Gaza: “Goal is to eliminate Hamas” declare the IDF

“We are in the first phase of ground operations in Gaza City,” announced the Israeli military, while officials assure that the operation will last as long as necessary until Hamas is eliminated from the region. They add that approximately 2,000 to 3,000 Hamas members are still in Gaza City and that the deployment and reinforcement of soldiers in the city will be gradual as ground forces already advance toward the center.

The Israeli military also announced that tens of thousands of soldiers are participating in this massive mobilization and that more will be added in the coming days.

Netanyahu’s statements on operation escalation and the UN genocide report

The Israeli Prime Minister, who appeared in court where he is being tried for corruption, confirmed the escalation of operations in Gaza City, spoke of an extremely significant operation and requested to be excused from judicial proceedings due to developments on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, in Geneva, a committee of independent experts who investigated genocide allegations in the Gaza Strip on behalf of the UN Human Rights Council also concluded that Israel is committing genocide. In its initial reaction, Israel, as expected, categorically rejected the genocide allegations, as on other occasions, with the Foreign Ministry characterizing the report as false, stating that this report distorts reality and demanding the immediate dissolution of the specific committee.

At the same time, pressure on the Israeli Prime Minister for an agreement with Hamas regarding hostages continues. Relatives have camped outside the Prime Minister’s residence, denouncing that their children are being used as human shields in the Gaza war.










UN and EU condemn

The UN, European Union and European capitals condemned through their statements the new assault launched today by the Israeli military on Gaza City, which once again provokes international outcry against Israel for its war in the Gaza Strip.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on Israel to immediately stop its ground assault on Gaza City, which began today, emphasizing that there is evidence proving the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity and possibly others.

“The only thing that comes to my mind is what this means for women, for malnourished children, for people with disabilities, if they are attacked again in this way. And I have to say that the only answer to this is: stop the carnage,” Türk said speaking to journalists in Geneva.

“Palestinians, Israelis are screaming for peace. Everyone wants this to stop, and what we see is further escalation that is completely unacceptable,” he added.

“I call on Israel to stop the unjustified destruction of Gaza.”

A UN Commission of Inquiry announced earlier today that it concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza and that high-ranking Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, incited such actions, with Israel “categorically rejecting” this “biased and false” report.

Türk did not use that term (genocide), but is under “pressure” to do so.

“We see the accumulation of war crimes”

When asked if he would consider using the word genocide to describe Israel’s actions in Gaza, Türk responded: “We see the accumulation of war crimes upon war crimes or crimes against humanity, and possibly even more. I mean, it’s up to the court to decide whether this is genocide or not and we see the evidence mounting.”

From Brussels, a European Union spokesperson said the Israeli assault on Gaza City would cause “more destruction, more deaths and more displacement” of the population.

The European Union “has repeatedly urged Israel not to escalate its operation in Gaza City (…) We have made clear that this would also worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation and endanger the lives of hostages,” said Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen escalated her criticism last week against the Israeli government, proposing sanctions against certain “extremist” ministers and “partial suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement” on trade.

These measures will be formally presented tomorrow Wednesday by the European Commission in Brussels. However, they are considered difficult to adopt by member states that are deeply divided on the issue. Due to differences among the 27 member states, the European Union is regularly accused of inaction regarding the Gaza war.

Faced with this inaction, several countries decided to take action on their own. Belgium decided, therefore, to unilaterally impose a series of sanctions (economic, consular) against Israel and certain ministers of the Netanyahu government.

Some countries, including France, have also planned to recognize a Palestinian state on the sidelines of the next UN General Assembly.

For its part, London condemned the new Israeli assault on Gaza City, characterizing it as “completely irresponsible and unacceptable.” “This will only lead to more bloodshed, will kill more innocent civilians and endanger Israeli hostages” who continue to be held in the Gaza Strip, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper wrote on platform X, demanding an “immediate” ceasefire.



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