Israel Launches New Ground Offensive in Gaza City Amid UN Genocide Allegations
The Israeli military has launched a new ground offensive in Gaza City, urging residents to evacuate as it targets Hamas infrastructure. The operation, involving tens of thousands of soldiers, follows a week of airstrikes on over 850 sites. Concurrently, a UN Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, citing killings, aid blockages, and statements of intent from Israeli leaders. Israel has rejected the UN report as a "distorted and false" libel.
Unpacked:
The conflict escalated after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, prompting Israel's major military campaign in Gaza. Multiple ceasefires, renewed offensives, and large-scale evacuations have followed. Several Israeli offensives and ceasefires took place in 2025, with ongoing negotiations and international pressure failing to end hostilities permanently.
The UN Commission cited mass killings, widespread destruction, deliberate blocking of humanitarian aid, and statements from Israeli leaders suggesting intent as evidence. The report claims these actions meet the definition of genocide under international law, specifically referencing the targeting of the Palestinian population in Gaza.
Israel has consistently rejected such allegations, arguing that its military actions target Hamas, not civilians, and that it operates within the bounds of international law. Israeli officials often describe UN reports as biased or inaccurate, and emphasize Hamas’s use of civilian areas for military operations.
Gaza faces a severe humanitarian crisis, with shortages of food, water, fuel, and medical supplies due to ongoing military operations and blockades. Mass displacement continues, with hundreds of thousands forced to relocate multiple times, and humanitarian aid entering Gaza is far below the required levels to meet urgent needs.