Heavy Bombing In Gaza City After US Secretary Rubio Backs Israel
Israel heavily bombarded Gaza City on Tuesday, witnesses told AFP, after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio backed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new offensive there and its stated goal of eradicating Hamas.
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Israel has initiated a significant new military operation targeting Gaza City.
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Witnesses informed AFP on Tuesday that Israel conducted intense bombardment of Gaza City, following US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fresh offensive and its declared objective to eliminate Hamas.
During his visit to Jerusalem on Monday, Rubio demonstrated complete alignment with Netanyahu, assuring Israel could "rely on our unwavering support" for its military campaign in the devastated Palestinian territory.
Later, witnesses told AFP there was "heavy, unceasing bombing on Gaza City" that destroyed homes and left individuals trapped beneath debris.
"We are able to hear their cries," reported 25-year-old resident Ahmed Ghazal.
Rubio's journey to Jerusalem occurred despite US President Donald Trump criticizing Israel a week earlier for conducting airstrikes on Hamas leaders in US ally Qatar.
However, Rubio expressed skepticism regarding the Qatari-mediated negotiations for a ceasefire and referred to Hamas, whose unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the Gaza conflict, as "barbaric animals".
The Secretary of State travels to Qatar on Tuesday seeking to reassure the emirate, which hosts the largest US air base in the region and has diligently cultivated relations with Trump.
Trump told reporters in Washington that Netanyahu "won't be striking in Qatar" again.
France advocates Palestinian statehood
Israel has launched a major new military campaign aimed at capturing Gaza City, the territory's largest urban center, where the United Nations determined last month that one million people faced famine – a finding rejected by Israel.
Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for the Gaza civil defense agency, informed AFP Tuesday that "bombardment continues heavily across Gaza City, and the number of fatalities and injuries keeps increasing".
Bassal stated that Israeli forces also targeted the southern city of Khan Yunis, following civil defense agency reports of Israeli strikes killing 49 people on Monday.
Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing many areas prevent AFP from independently verifying details provided by the civil defense agency or the Israeli military.
Rubio's visit comes one week before France leads a UN summit where numerous US allies, frustrated by what they perceive as Israeli inflexibility, plan to recognize a Palestinian state.
Rubio described statehood recognition as "largely symbolic", while Netanyahu – whose government strongly opposes such action – stated his country might take unspecified "unilateral steps" in response.
Far-right members of Netanyahu's cabinet have advocated annexation of the occupied West Bank to prevent a Palestinian state, provoking protests from the United Arab Emirates, which took the landmark step of recognizing Israel five years ago.
Netanyahu said Rubio's visit conveyed a "clear message" that the United States stood with Israel, and called Trump "the greatest friend that Israel has ever had".
Washington's top diplomat, standing beside the Israeli premier, said "the people of Gaza deserve a better future".
"But that better future cannot begin until Hamas is eliminated," Rubio stated at a joint press conference.
The October 7 attack by Hamas resulted in 1,219 deaths, predominantly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.
Israel's retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed more than 64,900 people, also mostly civilians, based on health ministry figures that the United Nations considers reliable.
Rubio met privately with hostages' families, who have campaigned vigorously for their release.
Of the 251 people taken hostage by Palestinian militants in October 2023, 47 remain in Gaza, including 25 the Israeli military says are dead.
Rubio tours east Jerusalem
In a highly symbolic gesture, Rubio attended late Monday the inauguration of a tunnel for religious tourists that runs beneath the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan to holy sites.
Fakhri Abu Diab, 63, a community spokesman in Silwan, said Rubio should instead visit homes, including his own, that have been demolished by Israel in what Palestinians allege is a targeted campaign to erase them.
"Instead of supporting international law, the United States is following extremists and the far right while ignoring our history," he said.
Rubio began his visit Sunday in the Old City of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, joining Netanyahu at the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews are permitted to pray, and calling Jerusalem the "eternal capital" of Israel.
Until Trump's first term, US leaders had avoided such explicit statements endorsing Israeli sovereignty over disputed Jerusalem, which is also sacred to Muslims and Christians.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)