Israeli army pushes into Gaza city in major ground offensive

The Israeli military has launched a ground offensive to seize Gaza City, marking a dramatic escalation in the nearly two-year conflict with Hamas, Axios reported on Monday, citing Israeli officials. The move follows weeks of heavy aerial bombardment and artillery fire that have devastated the enclave’s largest urban centre.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered the capture of Gaza City last month, calling it a critical stronghold for Hamas, the militant group that orchestrated the October 2023 surprise attack on Israel. Since then, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have tightened their siege on the Gaza Strip, cutting off supplies of food, water, and fuel while displacing hundreds of thousands of residents.

Israeli troops have been operating around the city’s perimeter for weeks, gradually advancing toward its core. According to humanitarian agencies, nearly one million Palestinians were sheltering in Gaza City as of last month, worsening concerns about mass civilian casualties.

“Gaza is burning,” Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz posted on X early Tuesday. He vowed that IDF troops would continue striking “terrorist infrastructure” while fighting “bravely to create the conditions for the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas.”

The IDF has not formally confirmed the offensive but has maintained that operations inside Gaza are aimed at dismantling Hamas’ military network and freeing Israeli captives. Meanwhile, international aid groups warn of a spiraling humanitarian crisis as residents face severe shortages of basic necessities and infrastructure collapses under relentless bombardment.

With Israeli forces now pressing into the heart of Gaza City, the battle is poised to become one of the most consequential—and potentially deadliest—phases of the war so far.