Israel launches Gaza City ground assault as displacement mounts

Israeli forces launched a major ground assault on Gaza City in mid September, accompanying tanks and infantry movements with intense airstrikes that residents and officials said forced hundreds of thousands to flee and inflicted heavy damage across the enclave. The offensive, which Israeli ministers described as aimed at dismantling Hamas infrastructure and freeing hostages, began days after a high level US visit and amid a United Nations inquiry that concluded Israel's conduct in Gaza may amount to genocide, a finding Israel has rejected.

Israeli authorities and military spokespeople said troops moved into Gaza City outskirts after sustained bombardment and the targeted destruction of multiple highrise buildings that the army alleged were used by Hamas. Defence Minister Israel Katz posted on social media that "Gaza is burning" as strikes toppled residential towers and flattened neighbourhoods. An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, estimated 2,000 to 3,000 Hamas fighters remained in the city. The military said it had opened corridors and urged civilians to move south to designated humanitarian zones.

Palestinian medical and civil defence officials...