Israel says ‘Gaza is burning’ as ground assault begins

Israel launched its long-threatened ground assault on Gaza City on Tuesday, with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) declaring that “Gaza is burning” amid some of the heaviest bombardments since the war began two years ago.

An IDF official confirmed that ground troops had entered deeper into Gaza’s largest urban centre, vowing that the number of soldiers involved would increase in the coming days.

The military estimates that up to 3,000 Hamas fighters remain entrenched in the city, many in tunnels and fortified positions.

Residents of Gaza City described relentless air and artillery strikes overnight, with entire neighbourhoods shaken by explosions.
Communications remained disrupted, making it difficult to assess casualties.

Israel’s offensive follows months of escalating clashes and comes after repeated warnings that a ground operation was imminent.

Humanitarian agencies have voiced alarm over the worsening situation for civilians, with food, water, and medical supplies running critically low inside the enclave.

The escalation marks a pivotal moment in the conflict, raising fears of even greater devastation as fighting moves deeper into densely populated areas.