Jerusalem: Israel has intensified its bombardment of Gaza City, with reports from US news site Axios and the Jerusalem Post suggesting that the Israeli military has launched a ground offensive to seize control of the city. Israeli airstrikes have also targeted central Gaza, affecting areas where thousands of residents are attempting to flee. Palestinian officials report a growing number of casualties as the conflict escalates.
According to BBC, the escalation precedes a long-anticipated full-scale ground invasion of Gaza City, which houses hundreds of thousands of people. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have urged residents to evacuate and move south within the Gaza Strip. Approximately 250,000 Palestinians have reportedly fled, yet many remain due to financial constraints or concerns about the safety of southern Gaza, which has also faced airstrikes. Some residents attempted to relocate but returned due to inadequate shelter conditions.
Meanwhile, US Senator Marco Rubio is set to visit Qatar, where Arab leaders have condemned last week's failed Israeli attack on Doha targeting Hamas leaders. Rubio emphasized Qatar's unique position to mediate in the Gaza conflict and expressed the US preference for a negotiated settlement. He highlighted a "very short window" for a potential deal and insisted that Hamas must disband as an armed group.
In Israel, families of hostages held in Gaza staged an overnight protest outside the prime minister's residence, fearing the military's strategy endangers their loved ones. Of the 48 hostages believed to be in Gaza, 20 are thought to be alive.
The intensification of attacks follows Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's refusal to rule out further strikes on Hamas leaders abroad, despite international backlash over the recent attack on Qatar. The White House previously assured Qatar that such actions would not recur, given Qatar's critical role in mediating diplomatic efforts and hosting a major US airbase.
As Rubio and Netanyahu convened, Arab and Islamic leaders in Qatar voiced strong opposition to Israel's ongoing offensive in Gaza and the strike in Doha. Israel's military actions are in retaliation for a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the capture of 251 hostages.
The Gaza Health Ministry, operated by Hamas, reports that over 64,500 people have been killed in Israel's campaign, nearly half of whom are women and children. With the UN declaring a famine in the region, there are warnings that further intensification of the conflict will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.