Gaza City on fire, ‘days left for deal’

ISRAEL unleashed a massive new bombing campaign on Gaza City yesterday 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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Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said 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 however unclear whether the previously declared ground assault on Gaza City had been launched.

Witnesses told of relentless bombing on Gaza City, much of which is already in rubble after nearly two years of Israeli strikes since the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas.

“We can hear their screams,’ said 25-year-old resident Ahmed Ghazal.

Rubio on Monday offered robust backing for the offensive as he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has ordered the Israeli military to seize Gaza City.