Israel marches ahead with new ground operation in Gaza City

The Israeli military on Tuesday expanded its offensive in the largest city in the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots. Israel warned residents in Gaza City to move south ahead of the operation. Thousands of people evacuated the city. Israeli leaders have said the operation is intended to wipe out the Hamas terrorist organization and bring Israeli hostages home. Ultimately, Israel plans to occupy all of Gaza. The Israeli military has already carried out large raids and airstrikes throughout the region. Late last month, the military estimated it had taken over 75% of Gaza since the renewed ground operation, and military leaders issued orders for tens of thousands of reservists to report for duty. The United Nations on Tuesday criticized an evacuation effort from Gaza City, and said about 150,000 people had fled south in the last month.

What else is happening in the region? The UN’s human rights office on Tuesday said in a report that Israel had committed genocide against the Palestinian people. An independent UN commission determined that Israel had committed four of the five genocidal acts defined by the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Investigators called on the international community to stop sending arms and equipment to Israel and hold accountable those accused of genocidal acts. The Israel Foreign Ministry rejected the allegations and said the report was distorted.

Meanwhile, Israel launched airstrikes Tuesday on the port city of Hodeida, Yemen, as part of a blockade on the Houthi terrorist organization, according to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. The organization activated its air defenses against Israel and forced some combat formations to leave Yemeni airspace, according to Houthi spokesman Yayha Saree. Israeli forces said they struck Houthi military infrastructure at the port.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report about U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.