Israel's ground assault on Gaza: What we know

Israel has announced a major ground assault in Gaza City that it says is aimed at crushing Hamas in the Palestinian territory's largest urban hub. Here is what we know about the offensive, the lead-up to it and the reactions it has sparked:

- 

Why now?

When Israel announced it would launch an offensive to capture Gaza City, global condemnation of its conduct of the war sparked by Hamas's October 2023 attack was picking up pace.

In Israel too, thousands of people including relatives of hostages seized by Palestinian militants during the October 7 attack have protested in recent weeks, calling for an end to the war.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained defiant, insisting that the war will end only with Hamas's defeat.

He was emboldened by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit over the weekend, during which he promised his ally his "unwavering support".

The offensive, launched on September 16, came as a United Nations probe accused Israel of committing "genocide" in the Palestinian territory, a charge Israel rejected as "distorted and false".

What do we know so far?