Israeli Military Escalates in Gaza Amid UN Allegations of Genocide

The Israeli military's operations in the Gaza Strip are escalating, with ground forces advancing toward central Gaza City while "intense" airstrikes pound the area. These developments coincide with a UN investigative commission's accusation that Israel has committed four out of the five acts constituting the crime of "genocide" in the territory.

Military Escalation in Gaza

According to news reports citing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel has initiated a "decisive phase" of the war in Gaza, with its ground forces entering the heart of the city. An Israeli military official stated that troops are advancing toward central Gaza City, where an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 Hamas fighters are believed to be located, as reported by the French news agency.

The military official explained that the ground operation has "expanded" to include the main Hamas stronghold in the city, confirming that this step is part of the military's "fundamental phase" of its plan to take control of the city. This escalation follows intensive Israeli bombardment of Gaza City, which eyewitnesses described as "violent" and continuous.

In a related context, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz tweeted on the platform "X" that Gaza City is "burning," affirming that the army is striking "terror infrastructure with an iron fist" to "accomplish its mission" and free the hostages.

Concurrently with these operations, security sources indicated that more than 370,000 people have left the Gaza Strip, with the pace of evacuation accelerating amid the ongoing bombardment and military operations.

UN Allegations of Genocide

In a highly significant development, an independent international commission of inquiry from the United Nations has accused Israel of committing the crime of genocide in Gaza. The commission's report concluded that there are "reasonable grounds" to believe that Israel has committed acts that fall under the definition of genocide according to the 1948 UN convention. These acts include: killing civilians, causing serious bodily and mental harm, deliberately inflicting destructive living conditions, and preventing births within the group.

The report considered statements from senior Israeli officials, such as President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as "incitement to genocide." The commission's head, Navi Pillay, affirmed that Netanyahu's use of phrases like "great revenge" and "evil city" indicated an intent to "collectively target civilians."

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs vehemently rejected the report, labeling it "biased and false" and accusing the commission members of being "agents of Hamas." This report comes as the International Court of Justice is reviewing a similar lawsuit filed by South Africa.

Humanitarian and Field Situation

On the ground, eyewitnesses describe the situation in Gaza as terrifying, with the city subjected to intensive bombing that has led to widespread destruction. According to the Palestinian news agency (WAFA), recent airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of 39 Palestinians, including 8 people killed in a bombing that targeted a humanitarian aid distribution point.

Ahmed Ghazal, a Gaza resident, said, "There is a great deal of heavy bombing on Gaza City that has not stopped, and the danger is increasing," noting that the bombing has targeted entire residential blocks. Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesperson for the Civil Defense in Gaza, also confirmed that the number of casualties is constantly rising.

Diplomatic Talks in Doha

In an effort to resolve the crisis, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Qatar, where he met with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The visit aims to urge Qatar to continue its mediation role on Gaza, especially after the recent Israeli strike that targeted Hamas officials.

In this regard, Rubio indicated that Qatar is the only country capable of mediating on Gaza, affirming the United States' desire for Doha to continue in this role. These talks come after the Israeli attack on Qatar drew rare criticism from US President Donald Trump.