JERUSALEM/CAIRO, Sept 16 (Reuters) – Israel unleashed a long-threatened ground assault on Gaza City on Tuesday, declaring “Gaza is burning” as Palestinians there described the most intense bombardment they had faced in two years of war. An Israel Defence Forces official said ground troops were moving deeper into the enclave’s main city, and that the number of soldiers would rise in coming days to confront up to 3,000 Hamas combatants the IDF believes are still in the city. “Gaza is burning,” Defence Minister Israel Katz posted on X. “The IDF strikes with an iron fist at the terrorist infrastructure and IDF soldiers are fighting bravely to create the conditions for the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas.” In launching the assault, Israel’s government defied European leaders threatening sanctions, and warnings from even some of Israel’s own military commanders that it could be a costly mistake. But Washington offered its apparent blessing, conveyed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Israel renewed its calls on civilians to leave, and long columns of Palestinians streamed towards the south and west in donkey carts, rickshaws, heavily laden vehicles or on foot. Hours before the escalation, Rubio offered U.S. backing at a press conference alongside Netanyahu. While the United States wished for a diplomatic end to the war, “we have to be prepared for the possibility that’s not going to happen”, he said.
NN: Its really simple all Hamas has to do is release the hostages, lay down their arm. And go to Turkey, Dubai or Qatar and join your terrorist brother spending the billions they looted..