Israeli onslaught is genocide, insist experts as ground invasion advances

ISRAELI Defence Minister Israel Katz declared that “Gaza is burning” as the Israeli military began a ground offensive targeting Gaza City yesterday, slowly squeezing in on the Palestinian territory's largest city.

- ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTER

Residents still in the city were warned they must leave and head south.

The push marks yet another escalation in the Israel-Hamas conflict. While the military would not offer a timeline for the offensive, Israeli media outlets suggested it could take months.

Mr Katz said “Gaza is burning” while independent experts commissioned by the United Nations’ Human Rights Council announced that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, joining a rising international chorus of such accusations.

Israel fiercely rejected the claim, calling the experts’ report “distorted and false”.

The European Union urged Israel yesterday to halt its ground invasion of northern Gaza as the 27-nation bloc seems poised to increase pressure on the country.

“Military intervention will lead to more destruction, more death and more displacements,” said Anouar El Anouni, a spokesperson for the European Commission.

“This will also aggravate the already catastrophic humanitarian situation and also and dangerous the lives of hostages”

On Wednesday, the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas will present to national representatives proposals to ratchet up pressure on Israel over its military campaign in Gaza.

Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she will seek approval from EU nations for new sanctions against far-right Israeli extremists and a partial suspension of a trade agreement with Israel.

She also said she will freeze millions of euros given by the EU's executive branch to Israel, which would not require the approval of all member countries.

‘The British government called Israel's new offensive in Gaza “utterly reckless and appalling”.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper wrote on X that the assault on Gaza City “will only bring more bloodshed, kill more innocent civilians & endanger the remaining hostages’