Extract from ABC News
BREAKING
The IDF has sent ground forces into Gaza City as part of a new offensive. (IDF/X)
The Israeli military has launched a ground offensive to occupy Gaza City, according to reports by Axios and CNN, both citing Israeli officials.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began the operation on Monday local time, the reports said.
The Israeli military announced on Tuesday morning, local time, that its expanded operation in Gaza City had begun, warning residents to move south.
"Residents of Gaza, the [IDF] has begun destroying Hamas's infrastructure in Gaza City," Israel's Arabic language spokesperson Avichay Adree said in a post on X.
"Gaza City is considered a dangerous combat zone, and staying in the area puts you at risk."
Israel has been warning Gaza City residents to evacuate for the past month ahead of a Gaza City operation, but many have said they were unable to evacuate due to overcrowding in Gaza's south and the high price of transport.
The ground incursion follows days of sustained air strikes on Gaza, with Palestinian residents reporting heavy strikes on Tuesday across Gaza City with Israel's defence minister saying that "Gaza is burning".
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to journalists while leaving Israel for Qatar, also suggested the offensive had begun.
"We think we have a very short window of time in which a deal can happen," he said.
"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."
Overnight strikes in Gaza City killed at least 12 Palestinians, including two children, according to Shifa Hospital, which received the bodies.
Shifa Hospital managing director Dr Rami Mhanna told the Associated Press that more than 90 injured had also arrived at the facility in the past six hours.
He said first responders reported many casualties were still under the rubble in multiple areas, and the death toll was likely to increase.
Last week, Israel launched an air strike against Hamas leaders in Qatar, expanding its military actions that have raged across the Middle East.
Plans for an expanded operation in Gaza came to light last month when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said an assault to take control of the city would take place "fairly soon".
Israeli air strikes had recently ramped up around the enclave, and following the latest displacement order issued by the IDF on September 9, the areas of the Gaza Strip untouched by orders were reduced to just over 10 per cent.
ABC/wires
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