Israel launches ground incursion into Gaza City amid global condemnation
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Israel launched a ground incursion into Gaza City, two Israeli officials confirmed to CNN on Tuesday, marking a sharp escalation in its ongoing war against Hamas despite international criticism and growing anger from the families of hostages.
The move follows days of heavy bombardment on Gaza City, during which Israeli airstrikes destroyed residential buildings, killed hundreds of Palestinians, and displaced tens of thousands. Hamas has warned that any offensive inside the city would put the lives of hostages at risk.
Around 20 hostages are believed to remain alive in Gaza, some of them thought to be held in the city. The issue has fueled public pressure on the Israeli government, with relatives accusing it of prioritizing military escalation over negotiations.
“Gaza is burning,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote on X. “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.”
“We will not relent and we will not go back – until the completion of the mission,” Katz added.
Israel launched its war on Gaza following the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack that killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel and saw over 200 hostages taken into Gaza. Since then, the conflict has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, displaced most of Gaza’s population, and triggered a humanitarian crisis described by the UN as catastrophic.
International calls for a ceasefire have intensified as the scale of civilian casualties rises. According to Palestinian health officials, more than 10 percent of Gaza’s population has been killed or injured since the start of the war, a figure echoed by Israel’s former military chief. Despite global condemnation, Israeli leaders insist their campaign will continue until Hamas is militarily defeated and all hostages are released.