ISRAEL BEGINS GROUND ATTACK IN GAZA

Bombardment made way for the operation to occupy enclave's largest urban center.

- BY NABIH BULOS

DISPLACED Palestinians move southward in the Nuseirat refugee camp.

Israel began BEIRUT a ground offensive into Gaza City, military officials said Tuesday, slow-rolling into the beleaguered city from multiple directions despite international opprobrium and even as hundreds of thousands of Palestinian residents remain within Gaza's devastated confines.

Weeks of intense bombardment that all but leveled the Gaza Strip's largest urban center made way for what Israeli military officials said was the ground maneuver phase of the operation to occupy the city.

"We are operating in the depths of the territory... Our aim is to deepen the blows to Hamas until its defeat," said the Israeli military's chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, in a video statement said to be from the border with Gaza on Tuesday.

"All our operations are carried out according to an orderly plan, with the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas before our eyes."

Two divisions - comprising tens of thousands of soldiers began entering the city late Monday from its western flank. Another is supposed to join in the coming days, while two other divisions encircle the city. Some 130,000 reservists are expected to be mobilized, the Israeli military said.

The Israeli military insists Hamas is using Gaza City as "the central hub" of its military and governing power, according to a briefing from its spokesman, Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin. He added the Palestinian group has turned the city "into the largest human shield in history."

"We estimate it will take several months to secure the city and its centers of gravity, and additional months to clear the city fully due to deep and entrenched infrastructure," Defrin said.

In a statement later on Tuesday, Hamas characterized Israel's accusation that it uses human shields as "a blatant attempt at deception." It added that Israel is "continuing to perpetrate brutal massacres against innocent civilians."