The Israeli army launches Operation Gideon's Tanks 2 and enters Gaza City.

Shortly before midnight, the sky turned orange from bombs. Night had vanished from the city: IDF tanks entered Al-Jalaa Street, in the heart of Gaza City, and robot bombs razed buildings. And more missiles fired from fighter jets, incessant artillery fire, and drones caused powerful explosions and dozens of deaths. The explosions could be heard as far as central Israel. Approximately 700,000 people remain in Gaza, despite the intense bombardment of recent weeks. 320,000 have moved south to the al-Mawasi camps in Kan Younis.

Live:

The UN Commission of Inquiry: "Gaza is a genocide."

United Nations investigators said they have determined that Israel has committed "genocide" in Gaza since October 2023, with the "intent of destroying the Palestinians" in the territory. "We have concluded that genocide is taking place in Gaza and that the State of Israel bears responsibility," said Navi Pillay, head of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry into the Situation of Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

***

Trump: "Hamas should not use hostages as human shields."

"Hamas must not use the hostages as human shields," President Donald Trump wrote in Truth. "I hope they know what they're getting into if they do something like this. This is a human atrocity, the likes of which few people have ever seen before. Don't let this happen, otherwise, all bets are off. Release all the hostages. Now." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's response was immediate: "Thank you, President, for your unwavering support."

***

Katz: "The city is burning"

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz says that "Gaza is burning." "The IDF is striking terrorist infrastructure with an iron fist and the soldiers are fighting bravely to create the conditions for the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas," Katz writes in a post on his X account . "We will not give up and we will not turn back until the mission is completed," the Israeli minister emphasizes.

***

The families' protest

As soon as news of the operation spread in Gaza City, where intelligence agencies believe at least some of the approximately 20 kidnapped people are being held, the families marched toward the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem. "It could be their last night," they accused the prime minister. Hamas—preparing for the IDF offensive—has taken some of the hostages into tents and buildings in Gaza City to use as shields. And it has entrusted the coordination of the so-called "legitimacy ambush" (ambushes and guerrilla warfare) to Izz al-Din Haddad, head of the military wing; Raed Saad, commander of the operations division; Muhammad Odeh, who heads the intelligence unit; and Mohand Rajab, a high-ranking soldier in the Gaza Brigade.

***

Rubio in Israel

The operation began while Marco Rubio was still in Israel . In a joint press conference on behalf of President Trump, the US Secretary of State emphasized the friendship and strong ties between the two countries and, above all, made it clear that the White House "remains committed" to achieving two specific objectives: "Every single hostage must return home immediately, and Hamas must be eliminated."

(Unioneonline/D)

- UPDATE IN PROGRESS -

© Riproduzione riservata