UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated on Tuesday that the situation in Gaza is horrific, emphasizing that the ongoing conflict in Palestinian territories is unacceptable on moral, political, and legal grounds. Guterres also expressed his willingness to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump at the United Nations next week.
On the same day, Israel initiated the main phase of its long-anticipated ground offensive in Gaza, claiming that “Gaza is burning.” Palestinians reported experiencing the heaviest bombardment in two years.
An Israeli military official indicated that ground forces are advancing deeper into the city, targeting its center, with an increase in troop numbers expected in the coming days to confront approximately 3,000 militants from the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), who the military believes are still within the city.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant posted early Tuesday on platform X that “Gaza is ablaze. The Israel Defense Forces are striking the infrastructure of terrorism with an iron fist, and IDF soldiers are bravely fighting to create the conditions for the release of hostages and defeat Hamas.”