Gaza City / Jerusalem: Israel launched a massive bombing campaign on Gaza City Tuesday, hours after visiting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio backed its push to eradicate Hamas. Rubio warned that only “days, maybe weeks” remain to secure a diplomatic solution.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz declared Gaza City “on fire” and vowed the military would not stop until its mission was complete. Witnesses described heavy and relentless strikes across the city, much of it already in ruins from nearly two years of war.
Rubio, who met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and families of hostages in Jerusalem, said Washington still prefers a negotiated deal in which Hamas demilitarises. “But sometimes when you’re dealing with savages like Hamas, that’s not possible,” he noted.
Families of hostages said they felt “terrified” after Netanyahu ordered fresh strikes, accusing him of undermining any deal to bring their loved ones back.
Rubio will travel to Qatar, which he called the only country capable of brokering a truce, despite Israeli strikes last week on Hamas leaders there. President Trump added that Netanyahu would not target Qatar again.
The Gaza health ministry said Israel’s campaign has killed more than 64,900 people since 2023, while 47 hostages remain in captivity.
