Israel has launched its long-planned ground assault on Gaza City , and its troops have pressed deep into the densely populated city, which has been subjected to intense bombardment for weeks, triggering the forced displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians.

The launch on Tuesday came the same day as a United Nations inquiry found that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza – home to 2.1 million Palestinians, most of whom have been displaced multiple times during the 23 months of war, which has killed nearly 65,000 people.

Israel’s decision to seize the city – home to more than a million people – has drawn global condemnation. Turkiye called the ground assault a new phase in its “genocide plans”. Ankara warned that it would trigger further mass displacement.

‘Wanton destruction

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