Ottawa is calling Israel's latest ground offensive in Gaza City "horrific" and says it's making the release of hostages still held by Hamas less likely.

Israel escalated its bombardment of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. It says it is targeting what used to be the most populated city in the territory so that it can prevent Hamas from launching further attacks.

The escalation has been met with widespread international condemnation as the Palestinian territory grapples both with famine and Israel's efforts to move civilians in the enclave toward the Egyptian border, part of a military operation that a United Nations inquiry says is a genocide .

"Israel's new ground offensive in Gaza City is horrific. It worsens the humanitarian crisis and jeopardizes the release of the hostages," says a Glob

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