Conflicting reports on an Israeli ground incursion in Gaza as nearly half the city’s residents flee

No sooner had the US Secretary of State left Israel than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the launch of an intensive operation in Gaza, after a harrowing night for the “city of a million.”

Appearing in court on Tuesday for his corruption trial, Netanyahu declared that Israel had begun a large-scale operation in Gaza.
“We have launched an intensive operation in Gaza. The State of Israel is at a decisive stage of this conflict, with significant consequences,” he told the judges.

Israeli media offered conflicting accounts: outlets such as Yediot Aharonot and Maariv reported a ground incursion, while the Israeli Broadcasting Authority denied such claims, speaking only of an intensive operation without elaborating on its nature.

Reports of tanks in central Gaza triggered panic and mass flight, but officials denied that armored vehicles had entered the city. Maariv nonetheless indicated that large forces, including the 36th, 98th, 99th, and 162nd divisions, as well as regular and reserve armored brigades, were expected to take part in an extended maneuver.

According to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, the “Gideon Vehicles 2” operation has entered its intensive phase, with gradual troop movements toward Gaza’s outskirts, supported by heavy airstrikes. Military sources stressed that troop safety remains the top priority, even at the expense of operational speed.

Army spokesman Avichay Adraee confirmed that the campaign had entered a new stage, stating that “the army has begun destroying Hamas’s underground infrastructure in Gaza City.” He warned civilians that Gaza City was a “dangerous combat zone,” urging them to evacuate via Al-Rashid Street to the south, adding that over 40% of residents had already fled.

The escalation followed remarks by Defense Minister Israel Katz, who declared that “Gaza City is burning.” Israeli strikes have heavily targeted several neighborhoods — Sheikh Radwan, Al-Karama, and Tel Al-Hawa — with 37 airstrikes carried out in just twenty minutes.

According to Yediot Aharonot, more than 350,000 Palestinians had left the city by Monday evening, with Israeli security officials anticipating further displacement as the operation progresses.

Before departing Israel for Qatar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Hamas had “a very short window” to accept a ceasefire deal: “We are no longer talking about months — it may be days, or a few weeks,” he said.