Israel Defence Forces officially enter Gaza City, claims it opened ‘temporary transportation route’ to help civilians escape

Israel on Wednesday claimed it has opened a “temporary transportation route” to help civilians escape Gaza City, even as its army pushed further into the area with a large ground offensive after days of heavy airstrikes. Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the corridor, located along Salah al-Din Street, will stay open for 48 hours, urging residents to move south for their safety. The announcement came as Israeli forces officially entered Gaza City, stepping up their assault on what they describe as a Hamas stronghold.

The ground operation began on Tuesday, with soldiers moving block by block through Gaza’s largest urban centre. Weeks of bombardment have already turned much of the city into rubble, forcing thousands to flee with whatever they could carry, but hundreds of thousands of people are still trapped inside.

The Israeli military has not given any timeline for its Gaza campaign, saying only that the aim is to “destroy Hamas’ military infrastructure.” Reports in Israeli media suggest the operation could go on for several months.

The offensive coincided with a UN Human Rights Council report accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, an allegation Israel dismissed as “distorted and false.” Defence Minister Israel Katz said, “Gaza is burning,” as heavy air and artillery strikes continued overnight.

Meanwhile, long convoys of cars and trucks piled with mattresses and belongings crowded Gaza’s coastal road as residents tried to flee, while some families escaped on foot.

During a short visit to the region, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that there is only a “very short window of time” to reach a deal to stop the conflict, which has shaken the Middle East for nearly two years.