Israel bombards Gaza City; UN accuses it of ‘genocide'

Gaza City, Palestinian Territories --- Israel unleashed a massive new bombing campaign on Gaza City Tuesday after visiting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio backed the ally’s goal of eradicating Hamas and warned only days may be left for a diplomatic solution.

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A United Nations probe, meanwhile, charged Israel with committing “genocide” in Gaza in a bid to “destroy the Palestinians”.

It accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials of incitement.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said early Tuesday that Gaza City, the territory’s main urban hub, was “on fire.”

“The IDF (Israeli military) is striking terrorist infrastructure with an iron fist, and IDF soldiers are fighting bravely to create the necessary conditions for the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas,” he said.

“We will not relent and we will not back down until the mission is accomplished,” Katz said.

It was unclear whether the previously declared ground assault on Gaza City had been launched.