Israel launched a ground attack on Gaza City on Tuesday, with Defense Minister Israel Katz declaring on X, “Gaza is Burning.”

“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,” Katz said.

An IDF official stated Israeli ground forces were advancing deeper into the city, adding that more troops would be deployed in the coming days to battle against 3,000 Hamas fighters Israel believes are still operational in the city.

Palestinians in the city said the operation was the most intense since the war started two years ago.

The military operation comes despite EU leaders threatening sanctions against Israel.

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his support for Israel during an exchange with journalists at the White House, saying Hamas would have “hell to pay” if it used hostages as human shields.

Meanwhile, the United Nations concluded Israel had committed a genocide in Gaza after an inquiry, a decision Israel called “scandalous” and “fake”.

Gaza health officials reported at least 50 people killed on Tuesday, most in Gaza City, as airstrikes swept across the city and tanks advanced.

Israel renewed its calls on civilians to leave, and long columns of Palestinians streamed towards the south and west in donkey carts, rickshaws, heavily laden vehicles or on foot.

Source: Reuters