Israel initiates ground incursion in Gaza City
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants, a United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) has accused the Israeli government leadership, including President Isaac Herzog and former military intelligence chief Aaron Haliva, of committing genocidal acts against Palestinians in Gaza.
The COI's report, released recently, concluded that "genocide is occurring in Gaza and is continuing to occur." The commission further charged Netanyahu, President Herzog, and former defense minister Yoav Gallant with inciting the commission of genocide.
Israel has rejected the COI's report and called for its immediate abolition. In response, Israel launched a ground assault on Gaza City before dawn on Tuesday, unleashing a massive bombardment of Gaza City during the night. The goal of Israel's assault, according to reports, is to eradicate Hamas in Gaza.
The October 2023 attack by Hamas resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures. The European Union and Britain have expressed concerns that the ground assault on Gaza City will worsen the humanitarian situation and lead to more bloodshed and civilian casualties.
Meanwhile, Israeli troops moved deeper into Gaza City's largest urban hub. Estimates suggest that there are 2,000-3,000 Hamas militants operating in the area. The United Nations considers the figures from the territory's health ministry, which state that Israel's retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed at least 64,905 people, mostly civilians, as reliable.
Before flying out to Qatar, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered robust backing for the offensive on Gaza City. Rubio's visit precedes a U.N. summit led by France, during which a number of Western governments plan to recognize a Palestinian state.
However, Rubio also met with families of hostages in Gaza and acknowledged that Hamas has leverage by holding them. He stated that there is a short window of time for a deal to happen, possibly a few weeks.
In a concerning development, Israel has also been accused of using the Yemeni port of Hodeida, controlled by Iran-backed rebels, for the transfer of weapons. This allegation, if proven true, could escalate the regional conflict further.
The international community is urging both sides to exercise restraint and to prioritise the protection of civilians. The ongoing conflict in Gaza continues to raise serious concerns about the humanitarian situation and the potential for further escalation.
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