Israel has begun its long-threatened major ground invasion of Gaza City, forcing thousands of Palestinians to flee for safety.
The offensive was launched on Tuesday just hours after Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, held talks with Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state.
During a situational assessment in the strip, Eyal Zamir, chief of the general staff, said the operation was necessary to take out Hamas.
“The maneuver in Gaza City is a significant step to carry out our highest moral and important duty — to return all the hostages home and to dismantle the military and governing capabilities of the Hamas terrorist organization,” Zamir said.
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When Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, Netanyahu vowed to eliminate the Palestinian militant group.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said Tuesday’s offensive was aimed at achieving the war’s objectives and to “enhance the achievements made during combat”.
Until recently, Gaza City was one of the areas in the besieged enclave into which the IDF had not fully ventured.
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Other cities in Gaza, including Rafah and Khan Younis, have been largely destroyed and flattened in Israeli strikes and demolitions.
The Israeli military estimated up to 3,000 Hamas militants in Gaza City, less than one percent of the local population.
The incursion comes as the United Nations (UN) and countries have warned that the assault on Gaza’s largest city will worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis.
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