In a stark declaration, Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, stated on Tuesday that “Gaza is burning,” following a series of heavy airstrikes that targeted Gaza City overnight. This escalation aligns with indications from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who suggested that a significant military operation may be in progress to address the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, particularly its largest city.
As these developments unfold, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to travel to Qatar, where he is expected to engage with officials still outraged by Israel’s recent airstrike that resulted in the deaths of five Hamas members along with a local security official. Despite vocal condemnations from Arab and Muslim nations during a summit on Monday, there has been a notable absence of substantial action aimed at pressuring Israel to alter its military strategy in what has become a prolonged and brutal conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Speaking to reporters before his departure for Qatar, Rubio hinted that the offensive in Gaza may have already commenced. “Well, as you saw, the Israelis have begun to take operations there. So we think we have a very short window of time in which a deal can happen,” he remarked. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We don’t have months anymore, and we probably have days and maybe a few weeks, so it’s a key moment — an important moment.”
Rubio expressed a desire for a resolution through diplomatic means, asserting, “Our preference, our No. 1 choice, is that this ends through a negotiated settlement.” He also acknowledged the perils that a heightened military campaign poses for the civilian population in Gaza. “The only thing worse than a war is a protracted one that goes on forever and ever,” he cautioned. “At some point, this has to end. At some point, Hamas has to be defanged, and we hope it can happen through a negotiation. But I think time, unfortunately, is running out.”
Reports from Palestinian residents indicate that heavy strikes rocked Gaza City on Tuesday morning. The Shifa Hospital has reported receiving the bodies of 12 individuals, victims of a strike that hit multiple residences in the city's western area. Additionally, around 90 wounded individuals have been transported to the hospital, according to Dr. Rami Mhanna, the hospital's managing director. “It was a heavy night,” shared Radwan Hayder, a local resident seeking refuge near the Shifa Hospital.
While the Israeli military has not publicly confirmed the commencement of the offensive, Defense Minister Katz indicated its progress in a post on the social media platform X. “Gaza is burning,” he noted, adding that the Israel Defense Forces are striking decisively at terrorist infrastructure. “Our soldiers are fighting heroically to create the conditions for the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas. We will not relent, and we will not go back — until the completion of the mission,” he asserted.
Both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Rubio have articulated that the only viable path to ending the conflict in Gaza hinges on the dismantling of Hamas and the release of the remaining hostages — approximately 48 individuals, with around 20 believed to still be alive. Hamas has stated that it will only consider releasing the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire, and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
This current escalation of violence traces back to the events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a significant assault into southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities, primarily civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals. While many hostages have since been freed through ceasefires negotiated largely with the help of Qatar, Israel's retaliatory measures have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 64,871 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. However, the ministry does not clarify how many of the deceased are civilians versus combatants, though it asserts that women and children comprise nearly half of the casualties.
This ongoing conflict continues to evoke profound humanitarian concerns as the situation in Gaza deteriorates, with the international community closely watching for any signs of resolution.
