Name: Israeli Military Launches Ground Offensive to Occupy Gaza City
Uploaded: 2025-09-16T15:48:23.000Z
Description: "Gaza is burning," Defence Minister of Israel Katz posted on X.

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Israel launched the main stage of its long-awaited ground offensive on Gaza City on Tuesday, declaring "Gaza is burning" as Palestinians in the area described the most intense bombardment they had experienced in two years of war.

An Israel Defence Forces official said ground troops were moving deeper into the city, towards its centre, and that the number of soldiers would rise in the coming days to confront up to 3,000 Hamas combatants the IDF believes are still in the city.

"Gaza is burning," Defence Minister of Israel Katz posted on X. "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."

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

The IDF estimates around 350,000 people have fled Gaza City so far, with close to twice as many still left behind.
<h2>Rubio Offers Support for Israeli Hard Line</h2>
Hours before the escalation, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered apparent backing for the Israeli government's decision to abandon ceasefire talks and use force to smash Hamas.

While the United States wished to see a diplomatic end to the war, "we have to be prepared for the possibility that's not going to happen", Rubio told a Jerusalem press conference alongside Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.

He endorsed Israel's demand that Hamas disarm, disband, and free all remaining hostages at once as the only way to end the war.

Hamas says it would free all hostages as part of a permanent ceasefire that would see Israeli forces pull out of Gaza, but has vowed not to disarm until a Palestinian state is established, a goal Israel is determined to thwart.
<h2>Within IDF, Some Concerned About Assault on Gaza</h2>
Some Israeli military commanders have expressed concern about the assault on Gaza City, warning that it could endanger the remaining hostages held by Hamas, and may be a "death trap" for troops.

Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, at a meeting Netanyahu convened late on Sunday with security chiefs, urged the prime minister to pursue a ceasefire deal, according to three Israeli officials, two of whom were in the meeting and one of whom was briefed on its details.

Hostage families gathered outside Netanyahu's home in Jerusalem late on Monday as news of the intensified strikes in Gaza streamed in.

"Our loved ones in Gaza are being bombarded by the IDF under the orders of the prime minister," said Anat Angrest, whose son Matan is among the 20 hostages believed to still be alive.

Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, Israeli tallies show. Israeli authorities say 20 of the remaining 48 hostages in Gaza are alive.

<em>By Steven Scheer and Nidal al-Mughrabi</em>

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