Israel launches offensive to occupy Gaza City

The Israeli military launched its ground offensive Monday to occupy Gaza City, which the Netanyahu government says is aimed at rooting out Hamas, Israeli officials said. Why it matters: The operation is an escalation in the war that has been going on for almost two years and is expected to increase the death toll and exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe in the enclave. According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, almost 65,000 Palestinians — most of them women and children — have been killed since Israel's offensive began after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack.Driving the news: Over the last week, the Israeli military increased its airstrikes in Gaza City and flattened dozens of high-rise buildings it claimed were used by Hamas for military purposes. At the same time, the Israel Defense Forces have called on the million Palestinians in Gaza City to leave and move south to "humanitarian areas." The IDF says around 300,000 Palestinians have left Gaza City so far. On Monday evening local time, the Israeli air force conducted massive airstrikes in Gaza City. Shortly after, Israeli tanks entered the city, according to Palestinian press reports in Gaza. Between the lines: Israel's top security chiefs — IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and the heads of Mossad, Shin Bet and military intelligence — advised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against launching the operation. They warned it could:Endanger the lives of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.Lead to heavy IDF casualties.Fail to dismantle Hamas.Force Israel into direct military rule over Gaza's 2 million residents.State of play: The Israeli offensive started hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Netanyahu and senior members of his Cabinet and while Rubio attended a ceremony of a settler group in a tunnel under the Palestinian village of Silwan in East Jerusalem — a short distance from the Al-Aqsa Mosque. "We have to remember who we're dealing with here — and that is a group of people that have dedicated their lives to violence and barbarism," Rubio said at a briefing with Netanyahu."And when you're confronting that hard reality, as much as we may wish that there be a sort of a peaceful, diplomatic way to end it, and we'll continue to explore and be dedicated to it, we also have to be prepared for the possibility that that's not going to happen."Zoom in: Two Israeli officials said Rubio told Netanyahu that the Trump administration supports the ground operation but wants to see it implemented quickly, ending as soon as possible. "Rubio didn't pull the breaks on the ground operation," a senior Israeli official said. A U.S. official said the Trump administration is not going to stop Israel and allows it to make its own decisions regarding the war in Gaza. "It's not Trump's war, it's Bibi's war, and he will own whatever happens next," the U.S. official said. What they're saying: As the Israeli tanks were making their way into Gaza City, Trump warned Hamas not to harm the 20 live Israeli hostages it's still holding. Trump referred to a news report by the Israeli public broadcaster KAN that Hamas has moved hostages aboveground to use them as human shields against Israel's ground offensive. "I hope the Leaders of Hamas know what they're getting into if they do such a thing. This is a human atrocity, the likes of which few people have ever seen before. Don't let this happen or, ALL 'BETS' ARE OFF. RELEASE ALL HOSTAGES NOW!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. Netanyahu issued a statement in response thanking Trump for his "unflinching support for Israel's battle against Hamas and the release of all our hostages."The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a statement warning that Netanyahu's decision to launch the ground offensive endangers the hostages. "The 710th night in Gaza may be the last night in the lives of the hostages who are barely surviving, and the last night of the ability to locate and return the fallen for a proper burial. The Prime Minister is consciously choosing to sacrifice them on the altar of political considerations, in complete disregard of the position of the Chief of Staff and the security authorities," the families stressed. Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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