GAZA: Israel has launched a ground offensive into Gaza City, the largest urban center, in a major escalation of the nearly two-year war, Israeli officials told CNN. The push comes despite mounting international condemnation, warnings of genocide from a UN inquiry, and growing backlash at home from hostage families and sections of the military.
Overnight strikes followed by pre-dawn strikes on Tuesday in Gaza City killed at least 48 Palestinians, according to Shifa Hospital, which the received the bodies, Associated Press reported.
“It was a heavy night,” said Radwan Hayder, a Gaza City resident sheltering near the hospital.
Middle Eastern news channel, Al Jazeera English reported “heavy, relentless” bombardment amid reports that Israel’s military has expanded its ground offensive.
Doctors in northern Gaza warn that lives of civilians, including premature babies, are at risk as medical facilities come under direct threat. Al-Shifa Hospital’s director urged international protection for staff and patients, while Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) said it would continue operating despite deteriorating conditions.
In recent days, Israel has ramped up bombardments of Gaza City, flattening residential blocks, killing hundreds, and displacing tens of thousands. Gaza’s Health Ministry has warned of “catastrophic” shortages in medical supplies, with hospitals struggling to keep premature babies alive and aid groups describing conditions as “beyond breaking point.”
An independent UN Commission of Inquiry said last week that Israel’s actions meet the legal definition of genocide — the most authoritative UN finding to date.
Preparing for isolation
Amid the offensive, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly acknowledged that Israel is facing what he called a “kind of isolation” that could last for years. Speaking at a finance ministry conference, he warned the country must prepare for reduced reliance on trade and foreign arms imports, describing the shift as an “autarkic path” for Israel’s economy.
“We’ll need to develop our weapons industry – we’re going to be Athens and super Sparta combined,” he said, stressing that Israel could no longer depend on international arms supplies. France, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and the UK have all imposed partial or full arms embargoes on Israel, while the United States remains its main weapons supplier.
Backlash at home and abroad
Netanyahu’s remarks highlight the mounting international fallout from Israel’s campaign in Gaza, which he has refused to scale back despite UN warnings and domestic opposition. Hostage families and former military officials have criticized the push into Gaza City, arguing it risks both hostages’ lives and Israel’s global standing.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid called Netanyahu’s “autarky” comments “crazy,” while former military chief Gadi Eisenkot accused him of “abandoning the hostages and isolating Israel in the world.” Internationally, several Western allies, including France, Canada, and Australia, have recognized a Palestinian state, a move Netanyahu and visiting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly criticized.
Despite the backlash, Netanyahu insisted that Israel’s economy remained resilient, boasting of stock market stability and promising greater investment in domestic weapons production.
