Thousands Flee As Israel Launches Major Gaza Assault

In a dramatic escalation of the Israel-Hamas war, Israeli troops stormed into Gaza City on Tuesday, unleashing a fierce ground offensive that has forced thousands of Palestinians to flee their homes amid relentless bombardment. The operation, aimed at dismantling Hamas' remaining military infrastructure, signals a deepening quagmire in a conflict that has ravaged the region for nearly two years, dashing hopes for an imminent ceasefire. As explosions rocked the city overnight and into the morning, long convoys of vehicles piled high with mattresses and belongings snaked along Gaza's coastal roads, while hundreds of thousands more remain trapped in the crossfire.

The offensive coincides with a damning UN Human Rights Council report accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza—a charge Jerusalem vehemently denied as "distorted and false." Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz proclaimed "Gaza is burning" as airstrikes pulverized towers and residential blocks in the lead-up to the ground push. An anonymous Israeli military official revealed that the "main phase" involves advancing from the city's outskirts toward its densely populated center, targeting an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 Hamas militants and their underground tunnel network. Though Hamas' forces have been severely weakened, they continue guerrilla tactics, including ambushes and improvised explosives.

Pre-offensive evacuation warnings prompted an exodus of around 350,000 people from Gaza City's 1 million-strong population, according to Israeli estimates, but a UN report pegs the figure at over 220,000 who fled northern Gaza in the past month alone. By day's end, the assault had claimed at least 34 lives in Gaza City, with Shifa Hospital overwhelmed by casualties. "A very tough night," lamented hospital director Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, describing non-stop bombing that left families mourning in the morgue. One grieving woman, Um Ahmed Zaqout, captured the desperation: "How long will we remain like this? We've had enough. Throw us into any country. Enough of this torture."

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The war erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants stormed southern Israel, slaughtering about 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and taking 251 hostages. Israel's retaliation has since killed over 64,900 Palestinians, per Gaza's Health Ministry, with women and children comprising roughly half the victims. Of the 48 remaining hostages—fewer than half believed alive—families gathered outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence overnight, pitching tents in protest. "Bring back my child along with 47 other hostages," beseeched Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is among the captives. She accused Netanyahu of endangering lives by using soldiers as shields for hostages.

On a brief regional visit, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged urgency in negotiations, warning of a "very short window" for a deal to end the war and "defang" Hamas. "At some point, this has to end," he said after meetings in Israel, before heading to Qatar—a key mediator incensed by a recent Israeli strike that killed five Hamas members and a local official. Rubio praised Qatar's role without addressing the incident, amid Arab and Muslim nations' summit denouncing the attack but stopping short of concrete measures against Israel.

Tensions also spiked with Egypt, a long-time peace partner and mediator, as President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi branded Israel "an enemy" in a blistering Qatar summit speech—the first such rhetoric since 1979's diplomatic thaw. Egyptian state media highlighted the remarks, signaling Cairo's fraying patience over Israel's actions, though no formal policy shifts have emerged. "Egypt is being threatened," affirmed Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt's State Information Service.

As the offensive grinds on—potentially lasting months, per Israeli media—fears mount of total Israeli control over Gaza, save a coastal sliver. The humanitarian crisis deepens, with aid access strangled and displacement rampant. International calls for restraint grow louder, but with Hamas demanding prisoner swaps, a ceasefire, and withdrawal for hostage releases, the path to peace remains elusive. This latest chapter in the protracted strife underscores the war's toll: shattered lives, leveled neighborhoods, and a region teetering on the brink.

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