Palestinian residents reported heavy strikes across Gaza City on Tuesday and Israel鈥檚 defense minister said 鈥淕aza is burning鈥 as a new Israeli ground offensive targeted the city.
Israel had been pounding the city with airstrikes in the lead-up to the operation, knocking down towers. At least 69 Palestinians have been killed in the latest strikes on Gaza City, according to hospitals in the territory.
鈥淚t was a heavy night,鈥 said Radwan Hayder, a Gaza City resident sheltering near the hospital.
Here’s the latest:
The UN chief warns there can be no Mideast peace without a two-state solution
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the alternative, one state under which Palestinians would be deprived of their land and rights, would be 鈥渁bsolutely intolerable.鈥
鈥淚s this possible in the 21st Century? Is this acceptable in the 21st Century?,鈥 Guterres asked during a news conference Tuesday.
The Palestinians hope at least 10 countries will recognize a state of Palestine at the upcoming U.N. General Assembly meeting.
Israel鈥檚 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes a two-state solution and is boycotting the meeting, along with close ally the United States.
鈥淲ithout a two-state solution,鈥 Guterres warned, 鈥渢here will be no peace in the Middle East, and extremism will expand everywhere in the world with the consequences that I consider extremely, extremely negative.鈥
He says the international community must 鈥渕ake sure the two-state solution prevails.鈥
Israeli prime minister says he鈥檚 been invited back to the White House
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that President Donald Trump has invited him to visit on Sept. 29, after the Israeli leader addresses the United Nations General Assembly.
It will be Netanyahu鈥檚 fourth visit to the White House since Trump assumed office in January.
UN chief says Israel doesn鈥檛 appear interested in a ceasefire or hostages
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a U.N. news conference: 鈥淚t looks like Israel is determined to go up to the end.鈥
Following the recent Israeli airstrikes targeting Hamas鈥 leaders in Qatar, he said, 鈥渋t doesn鈥檛 look that Israel is interested in serious negotiations for ceasefire and the release of hostages.鈥
The U.N. chief pointed to the systematic destruction of Gaza City, 鈥渄ramatic obstacles鈥 to aid distribution, and the 鈥渕assive killing of civilians鈥 more than he has seen anywhere since he became secretary-general in 2017.
He said Israel is violating international law with its campaign in Gaza, but a determination of genocide can only be made by the U.N.鈥檚 highest court.
The secretary-general said he would be 鈥渄elighted鈥 to meet the Israeli prime minister during the U.N. General Assembly next week. If a meeting happens, Guterres said, he will inform the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu last November, alleging crimes against humanity.
Families of hostages implore Netanyahu to halt the operation
Families of the hostages still being held in Gaza gathered outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu鈥檚 residence overnight, begging him to stop the offensive.
Israel believes around 20 of the hostages are alive. Hamas has said it will only free the remaining captives in return for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
UN chief stops short of agreeing Israel is committing genocide
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the situation in Gaza is intolerable and it 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 look like Israel is interested in a serious negotiation for a ceasefire.鈥
A United Nations commission has determined Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Missile fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen sets off sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv
The Israeli military said it is working to intercept the projectile, which was fired after Israel carried out airstrikes on the rebel-held port city of Hodeida in Yemen.
The Houthis regularly fire drones and missiles at Israel, in what they say is solidarity with the Palestinians. The vast majority are intercepted or land in open areas without causing casualties or damage. Israel has carried out waves of retaliatory strikes on Yemen.
Trump warns Hamas not to use hostages as 鈥榟uman shields鈥
This comes as Israel鈥檚 ground offensive targeting Gaza City begins.
鈥淚 hear Hamas is trying to use the old human shield deal,鈥 U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday as he prepared to leave for the United Kingdom. 鈥淎nd if they do that, they鈥檙e going to be in big trouble.鈥
On Monday, Trump posted his Truth Social platform that he had read a news report indicating Hamas would use the captives as 鈥渉uman shields.鈥
Yemen鈥檚 Houthi rebels say Israel launches strikes on port city of Hodeida
Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels said they activated air defenses after Israel launched strikes Tuesday.
鈥淥ur air defenses are currently confronting the Israeli aircrafts that are launching an aggression against our country,鈥 Houthi military spokesperson Yayha Saree posted on X.
Israel鈥檚 military urged residents of the port city of Hodeida earlier Tuesday to evacuate ahead of the strike.
Qatar’s emir and Rubio discuss the Israeli attack on Hamas in Doha
Qatar said Tuesday its ruling emir spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio about defense cooperation and the 鈥渃onsequences of the Israeli attack on Doha.鈥
Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar鈥檚 Foreign Ministry, provided details of the talks between Rubio and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The two men also spoke about mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, he added. However, al-Ansari harshly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the attack last week on Doha that killed six people.
鈥淚f Prime Minister Netanyahu wants peace, he knew the road to peace a long time ago. He just decided not to go through it, and he decided to mediate in bad fate,鈥 al-Ansari said. 鈥淎nd therefore, the questions about the fate of their mediation should be asked of he who is bombing the mediators and those who he is talking with on the negotiating table.鈥
Israel warns it will launch airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels
Israel鈥檚 military said Tuesday it will launch airstrikes on Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen鈥檚 port city of Hodeida.
Military spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee urged residents in the city to evacuate ahead of the attack, which he said will occur in the coming hours. Hodeida is controlled by the Houthis, who have launched missiles and drones toward Israel and targeted ships in the Red Sea for over 22 months of the war in Gaza.
鈥淔or your safety, we urge all those present at the Port of Hodeidah and the ships anchored there to evacuate the area immediately,鈥 Adraee wrote on social media.
EU urges Israel to halt its Gaza offensive
The European Union urged Israel on Tuesday to halt its ground invasion of northern Gaza as the 27-nation bloc seems poised to increase pressure on the country.
鈥淢ilitary intervention will lead to more destruction, more death and more displacements,鈥 said Anouar El Anouni, a spokesperson for the European Commission. 鈥淭his will also aggravate the already catastrophic humanitarian situation and also and dangerous the lives of hostages.鈥
On Wednesday, the EU鈥檚 top diplomat Kaja Kallas will present to national representatives proposals to ratchet up pressure on Israel over .
Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she will seek approval from EU nations for new sanctions against far-right Israeli extremists and a partial suspension of a trade agreement with Israel. She also said she will freeze millions of euros given by the EU鈥檚 executive branch to Israel, which would not require the approval of all member countries.
UK calls new Israeli offensive 鈥榬eckless鈥
The British government has called Israel鈥檚 new offensive in Gaza 鈥渦tterly reckless and appalling.鈥
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper wrote on X that the assault on Gaza City 鈥渨ill only bring more bloodshed, kill more innocent civilians & endanger the remaining hostages.鈥
She added: 鈥淲e need an immediate ceasefire, all hostages released, unrestricted humanitarian aid and a path to lasting peace.鈥
Rubio thanks Qatar for mediation efforts
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered his thanks Tuesday to Qatar for its work on mediating the Israel-Hamas war, his office said, after an Israeli strike targeted Hamas leaders in Doha.
A statement from his office did not directly acknowledge Israel鈥檚 strike last week that killed six people.
Instead, it said Rubio acknowledged the strong ties between Qatar and the U.S.
Rubio 鈥渢hanked Qatar for its efforts to end the war in Gaza and bring all hostages home,鈥 the statement said. Rubio 鈥渞eiterated America鈥檚 strong support for Qatar鈥檚 security and sovereignty and discussed our shared commitment to a safer, more stable region.鈥
Qatar offered no immediate readout from the meeting, which came as Israel launched a new ground offensive targeting Gaza City.
Human Rights Council holds debate on Israeli attack in Qatar
The U.N. Human Rights Council is holding a debate in which a string of countries are denouncing last week鈥檚 Israeli strike in Doha that killed five Hamas members and a local security official.
Qatar鈥檚 minister of state for international cooperation, Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, told delegates in Geneva on Tuesday that the attack 鈥渃onstitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law by targeting a purely civilian area.鈥
She added that 鈥渢argeting the mediating state is targeting the principle of negotiation itself.鈥
The council鈥檚 president said Israel鈥檚 delegation wasn鈥檛 in the room as it heard statements from the countries concerned.
Israeli Ambassador Daniel Meron told reporters before the debate that the council has been 鈥渟erving as a platform for anti-Israel propaganda while ignoring the brutal realities on the ground and the atrocities committed by Hamas.鈥
Tens of thousands try to leave northern Gaza
Long lines of traffic stretched down the coastal road on Tuesday as tens of thousands of Palestinians attempted to leave northern Gaza after Israel said it had begun its ground operation in Gaza City.
Vehicles laden with belongings, with mattresses strapped to every available surface, crawled along the road while others made their way on foot down the coast.
The U.N. estimates some 220,000 Palestinians have fled northern Gaza, including more than 70,000 in the past few days, ahead of the operation.
Approximately 1 million Palestinians were in the Gaza City region before the most recent operation.
Rubio leaves Qatar
Marco Rubio has boarded his plane to leave Qatar.
The U.S. secretary of state said goodbye to Qatari and U.S. officials on the tarmac before climbing the stairs to his airplane.
He turned back, waved, gave a thumbs up and then put his hand over his heart before boarding the plane.
El-Sissi calls Israel 鈥榓n enemy鈥
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi described Israel as 鈥渁n enemy鈥 in a fiery speech at the Qatar summit Monday.
It was the first time an Egyptian leader used the term since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1979, said Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt’s State Information Service.
鈥淓gypt is being threatened,鈥 Rashwan told the state-run Extra News television late Monday.
El-Sissi鈥檚 鈥渆nemy鈥 comment played prominently across Egyptian newspapers鈥 front pages on Tuesday and while Cairo has taken no steps to change its status with Israel, the Egyptian government likely is trying to signal just how seriously it takes Israel鈥檚 recent actions.
Rubio meets Qatar’s emir
Marco Rubio met Tuesday with Qatar鈥檚 ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Rubio shook hands with both Sheikh Tamim and Qatar鈥檚 prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, before starting the meeting.
Human rights experts accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza
A team of independent experts commissioned by the United Nations鈥 Human Rights Council concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, in a report Tuesday that calls on the international community to end the genocide and take steps to punish those responsible for it.
The deeply-documented findings by the three-member team are the of genocide against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu鈥檚 government by as Israeli carries on with its war against Hamas in Gaza.
Israel rejected what it called a 鈥渄istorted and false鈥 report.
While neither the commission nor the 47-member-country council that it works for within the U.N. system can take action against a country, the findings could be used by prosecutors at the International Criminal Court or the U.N.鈥檚 International Court of Justice.
The team was commissioned by the Human Rights Council, the U.N.鈥檚 top human rights body, but it does not speak for the United Nations.
Israel says expanded military operation in Gaza City has begun
The Israeli military announced Tuesday that its expanded operation in Gaza City 鈥渢o destroy Hamas鈥 military infrastructure鈥 has begun and warned residents to move south.
Israel鈥檚 Arabic language spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced the expansion of Israel鈥檚 operation on X, after a night of heavy strikes against northern Gaza that killed at least 20 people.
Israel has been warning the famine-stricken Gaza City residents to evacuate for the past month ahead of the operation but many have said they are unable to evacuate due to overcrowding in Gaza鈥檚 south and the high price of transport.
Rubio arrives in Qatar
Marco Rubio arrived Tuesday in Qatar for a visit after Israel attacked Hamas leaders there.
Rubio鈥檚 plane landed Tuesday morning in Doha, where he was expected to meet with the country鈥檚 ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Qatar hosted a summit Monday that saw Arab and Islamic countries that killed six people.
But leaders offered different views about what to do, and the group agreed to take only minimal action.
Spain summons Israeli diplomat
Spain summoned Israel鈥檚 acting ambassador in Madrid Tuesday for the second time in less than a week over comments made the day before by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar toward Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S谩nchez.
On Monday, S谩nchez called for Israel to be banned from international sporting events over its actions in Gaza.
Saar responded on X by calling the Spanish leader an 鈥渁ntisemite and a liar.鈥
Spain has been an outspoken critic of Israel鈥檚 military offensive in Gaza.
On Sunday, disrupted the final leg of a top cycling event because an Israeli team was taking part, which caused the race鈥檚 finale to be cancelled.
Israeli strike kills at least 12 Palestinians in Gaza City, hospital says
Shifa Hospital in Gaza City received the bodies of 12 people who were killed in a strike that hit multiple houses in the western part of the city, said Dr. Rami Mhanna, managing director of the hospital.
He told The Associated Press that more than 90 injured also arrived at the facility in the past six hours.
He said first responders reported that many casualties are still under the rubble in multiple areas, and that the death toll is likely to increase.
Rubio says time running out for negotiated settlement
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to journalists while leaving Israel for Qatar, acknowledged the start of operations in Gaza City and stressed the need for an immediate end to the conflict that eliminates Hamas.
鈥淭he Israelis have begun to take operations there. So we think we have a very short window of time in which a deal can happen,鈥 Rubio said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 have months anymore, and we probably have days and maybe a few weeks to go.鈥
Rubio said a deal would need to include the release of hostages and the demilitarization and disarmament of Hamas.
Rubio plans to visit Qatar on Tuesday after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a day earlier in Israel, where they showed over Israel鈥檚 airstrikes on Hamas leaders in Qatar and its bombardment of Gaza City.
The Trump administration appears keen to ease tensions between its two close allies, following Israel鈥檚 strike in Doha last week.
