Israel Launches Ground Offensive in Gaza City as UN Probe Labels Actions Genocide

Subhead: Ground troops move in after heavy airstrikes; independent UN commission accuses Israeli officials of genocide

Lead Israel’s military began a ground offensive in Gaza City on Tuesday, intensifying air and naval bombardments to dismantle Hamas’s infrastructure, as a UN inquiry concluded that top Israeli officials incited genocide against Palestinians.

Nut Graf The escalation marks one of the conflict’s most significant phases since October 2023, with Israel ordering hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate northern Gaza City amid mounting international condemnation over civilian suffering and alleged war crimes.

Ground Offensive Commences

  • Troops advanced into Gaza City’s northern districts early Tuesday, supported by tanks, warplanes and naval vessels shelling coastal areas.
  • The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated they are “dismantling Hamas terrorist infrastructure” to secure conditions for hostage releases and defeat the group, declaring the area a “dangerous combat zone”.

UN Inquiry Finds Genocide

  • The UN Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory concluded Tuesday that Israel’s conduct in Gaza meets four of the five genocidal acts defined in the 1948 Genocide Convention, including killing and inflicting conditions intended to destroy Palestinians, and accused top officials of incitement.
  • Israel has rejected the commission’s findings as politically motivated and continues to contest genocide allegations at the International Court of Justice.

Humanitarian Impact

  • Residents report relentless bombardment, flattened buildings and screams beneath the rubble, forcing mass displacement. At least five Palestinians were killed in overnight raids on western Gaza City, including two children, according to Shifa Hospital.
  • Over 300,000 people had already fled the city before Tuesday’s assault, with up to 500,000 ordered southward despite severe shortages of food, water and medical care.

International Reactions

  • U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Qatar after meeting Israeli leaders, warned that only days remain for a diplomatic solution but reaffirmed U.S. support for Israel’s goal of dismantling Hamas.
  • Western governments and human rights groups have condemned the offensive; France and other EU members are preparing to recognize Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in protest.