Israel has been heavily bombing Gaza City overnight, with unconfirmed reports on the websites Axos and JerusalemPost saying the army has now launched a ground offensive to capture the entire city.
Israel has struck the center of Gaza in an area where thousands of people are staying. Palestinian officials have said the death toll and injuries are rising.
The intensification came after long warnings of a complete occupation of the city, which is home to hundreds of thousands of people.
And on Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of unwavering American support.
And in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote on Twitter that "Gaza is burning" and threatened that Israel "will not back down - until the mission is complete."
Israel has asked residents to leave the southern Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said about 250 Palestinians have left, but thousands more are believed to be in the area.
Some cannot afford to leave, while others see no safety anywhere.
In Israel, families of hostages protested outside the prime minister's house overnight, saying they believe Israel's military strategy is putting their loved ones at risk. It is believed that 48 hostages are still in Gaza, 20 of whom are alive.
The escalation in Gaza comes after Netanyahu refused to stop attacks on Hamas leaders despite international criticism for the attack on Qatar.
Israel launched the war in Gaza a day after Hamas killed 7 people in attacks on Israel and took 2023 hostages on October 1200, 251. More than 64 people have been killed in Israel's retaliation, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
A famine crisis has now been officially declared for the area, and the United Nations has warned that a new offensive would further deepen the disaster.
Palestinians try to escape Israeli attacks in Gaza City
Photo: Associated Press
Thousands of families are trying to flee Gaza City as the Israeli military has confirmed it has launched ground operations as part of its large-scale offensive aimed at capturing the city.
Lina al-Maghrebi, 32, a mother of three from the city's Sheikh Radan neighborhood, told the BBC that she had resisted leaving her home, despite the danger, until she received a call from an Israeli officer ordering her to evacuate.
"I had to sell my jewelry to cover the cost of moving and a tent," she said. "It took us 10 hours to get to Khan Younis and we paid £735 for the trip. The line of cars and trucks seemed endless," she said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a "powerful operation" had been launched in Gaza City, which he described as Hamas' last major stronghold.
The Israeli military has designated the al-Rashid coastal road as the only route allowed for civilians to evacuate. Many have described severe congestion, endless lines of cars and trucks, and long delays as airstrikes continued overhead as fleeing Palestinians.
The new Israeli operation has been widely condemned by international leaders, including the UN human rights chief and the German foreign minister.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has called the offensive "utterly reckless and appalling", saying it would "only bring more bloodshed, kill more innocent civilians and endanger the remaining hostages".
But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to offer tacit support for Israel's operation during a joint press conference with Netanyahu on Monday, saying the US preferred a negotiated end to the war but that "sometimes when you're dealing with a vicious group like Hamas, that's not possible."
Israel's increased offensive comes as a United Nations investigative commission released a report on Tuesday that says Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel has categorically rejected the report.
World leaders call on Israel to halt new Gaza offensive
Photo: Associated Press
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is joined a video call with the leaders of Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, France and Canada on Monday, as Israel launched a new ground offensive in Gaza, warned weeks in advance first.
During the call they have discussed Israel's "unacceptable attack" on Hamas leaders in Doha last week and agreed to "redouble their efforts" to end the cycle of violence in the region.
"The Prime Minister applauded Qatar's vital mediation role," Downing Street announced, adding that the United Kingdom stands ready to support these efforts.
The leaders discussed the "terrible situation in Gaza" and agreed that Israel must halt its ground offensive and immediately allow an increase in humanitarian aid.
"This is the only way to make progress towards a ceasefire and secure the release of the hostages," they said. added them.
The UN General Assembly will meet later this month, when the United Kingdom, France and Canada have said they will recognize a Palestinian state.