Israel has intensified its bombardment of Gaza City, with heavy overnight strikes reported amid growing speculation that a full-scale ground assault may already be underway.
Unconfirmed reports from Axios and the Jerusalem Post suggested that Israeli forces had begun an operation aimed at seizing control of the entire city.
Meanwhile, airstrikes also struck parts of central Gaza, the same route through which thousands of Palestinians have been fleeing south.
Palestinian officials say the death toll continues to rise, with homes destroyed and residents trapped under rubble as near-constant artillery fire and air raids pound the enclave. Local journalists described the bombardment as some of the heaviest since the war began.
The escalation came just hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, pledging Washington’s “unwavering support.”
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, stated the government’s determination in a post on X early Tuesday, declaring: “Gaza is burning. We will not relent and we will not go back until the completion of the mission.”
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have repeatedly ordered Gaza City residents to evacuate south, estimating that around 250,000 people have already fled.
However, hundreds of thousands remain, with many citing financial hardship or safety concerns in southern Gaza, where Israeli strikes have also continued.
At the same time, frustration is mounting within Israel itself. Families of hostages still held in Gaza camped outside Netanyahu’s residence overnight, voicing fears that the military’s intensified strategy could endanger their loved ones.
Around 48 hostages are believed to remain in captivity, with roughly 20 thought to be alive.
The military escalation comes against the backdrop of growing diplomatic tension. Arab and Islamic leaders meeting in Doha on Monday denounced Israel’s campaign and last week’s controversial strike in the Qatari capital that reportedly targeted Hamas leaders but failed to kill them.
Rubio, who is due to travel to Qatar next, acknowledged the Gulf state’s role as a key mediator in the conflict.
Speaking before departure, he warned of a “very short window” for securing a deal and stressed that Hamas must be dismantled as an armed group.
Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies are raising the alarm over the worsening crisis. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run Ministry of Health, more than 64,500 people have been killed since Israel’s campaign began in response to Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack that left about 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage. Nearly half of those killed in Gaza are women and children.
With famine already declared by a UN-backed body, aid officials warn that the intensification of Israel’s offensive risks plunging civilians into an “even deeper catastrophe.”
Israel escalates Gaza bombardment as defence minister declares “Gaza is burning”
