Qatar condemns Gaza City offensive

Qatar's Foreign Ministry says it "condemns in the strongest terms" Israel's just-launched ground offensive in Gaza City, via The Times of Israel.

The ministry alleges that the campaign is aimed at seizing control of Gaza, calling it "an extension of the war of genocide against the brotherly Palestinian people and a flagrant violation of international law."

The statement, coming a day after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Doha in a bid to keep Qatar engaged in Gaza ceasefire efforts, urges "decisive international solidarity to compel [Israel] to comply with international legitimacy resolutions," but stops short of calling for sanctions or other far-reaching punishments.