Israel launches offensive on Gaza city after weeks of strikes

Israeli forces began an offensive on the city of Gaza on Tuesday after weeks of bombardment and air strikes, U.S. outlet Axios and Israeli and Arab media reported.

Israeli warplanes carried out heavy air raids on Gaza on the evening of Sept. 15, and local media and Palestinian sources said tanks had entered parts of the city. The Israeli military has in recent weeks stepped up attacks and urged civilians to move south; it says about 300,000 of the enclave’s roughly 1 million residents have fled.

Axios, citing Israeli officials, reported the operation followed a meeting between U.S. officials and Israeli leaders in which Washington signalled support for a ground operation but urged it be carried out quickly. A U.S. official told Axios the United States would not stop Israel from acting and left decisions to Israeli leadership.

Israeli security outlets described the strikes as “intense and significant.” Gaza health and local sources reported dozens of strikes in short periods, and residents said explosions were heard across wide areas.

Israel says the operation targets senior Hamas officials who arrived in Doha for ceasefire talks. The move has drawn protests inside Israel, with demonstrators pitching tents near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence and police establishing a security cordon.

Israeli leaders say the aim is to destroy Hamas’s military infrastructure in the city; some senior security officials had urged caution, warning a ground assault could endanger hostages, result in heavy Israeli casualties and bring the occupied territory under direct military rule.