MIDDLE EAST | GAZA

JERUSALEM — Israel launched its offensive in Gaza City on Tuesday, vowing to overwhelm a city already in ruins from almost two years of war as thousands of Palestinians fled in vehicles strapped with mattresses and other belongings that clogged a coastal road.

The operation into the largest Palestinian city escalated a conflict that roiled the Middle East and likely pushed a ceasefire with Hamas further out of reach.

The military would not offer a timeline for the offensive that aims to crush the militant group's ability to fight, but Israeli media suggested it could take months.

"Gaza is burning," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared as the operation began. Heavy bombardment pounded the city, and troops began moving in from the outskirts after weeks of air

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