Israel Katz declares “Gaza is burning” as ground assault begins. Rubio warns Hamas are “agents of barbarism,” while Trump declares “ALL BETS ARE OFF.” Heavy bombardment overnight and today was matched by increasing troop movements.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have begun their long-planned ground offensive into Gaza City, marking the most decisive phase of the Swords of Iron War. Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the start of the operation on Tuesday with stark words: “Gaza is burning.” He said the campaign would continue until Hamas is dismantled and all Israeli hostages are returned.

Columns of Israeli armor and infantry advanced under cover of artillery and airstrikes, pushing into neighborhoods such as Shuja’iyya and Zeitoun that have long served as Hamas strongholds. Explosions echoed across the city as drones lit up the sky with flares, guiding advancing troops through dense urban terrain.

The IDF simultaneously ordered civilians to evacuate southward. Tens of thousands have already fled Gaza City, but many remain. Some cite fear of bombardment along the escape routes, others point to dire conditions in the southern “humanitarian zones,” while Hamas has openly encouraged residents to resist evacuation. In parts of Gaza City, demonstrators carried signs declaring, “We will not leave.”

Hostages at the center

As Israeli troops entered the city, the fate of dozens of hostages still held in Gaza loomed over every decision. Israeli leaders warn that Hamas may try to use captives as human shields in an effort to slow the assault. Katz has said repeatedly that hostage rescue is not only a moral duty but a central military objective.

The possibility that Hamas could chain its survival to the presence of Israeli civilians in harm’s way prompted direct warnings from both Jerusalem and Washington.

Rubio’s message

Standing in Jerusalem, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered strong backing for Israel’s campaign but trained his words squarely on Hamas.

“Hamas needs to cease to exist as an armed element that can threaten the peace and security of the region. And the people of Gaza deserve a better future. But that better future cannot begin until Hamas is eliminated.”

He continued:

“As long as Hamas is around, there will be no peace in this region because they are not agents of peace. They are agents of barbarism.”

Rubio stressed that if Hamas uses hostages to shield its forces, it will only hasten its destruction. Washington, he said, sees the clock running down on any negotiated release.

Trump’s ultimatum

Former U.S. President Donald Trump went even further in a statement on his Truth Social platform. Responding to reports that Hamas had moved Israeli captives above ground, he wrote:

“I hope the Leaders of Hamas know what they’re getting into if they do such a thing. This is a human atrocity, the likes of which few people have ever seen before. Don’t let this happen or, ALL ‘BETS’ ARE OFF. RELEASE ALL HOSTAGES NOW!”

The phrase “all bets are off” is Trump’s way of signaling that if Hamas crosses this line, Israel and its allies will no longer feel constrained by the usual diplomatic caution or proportionality debates. It is an ultimatum: using hostages as shields would strip away the last limits on Israel’s military response.

What Israel could do

If Hamas does place hostages as human shields, Israel’s response is likely to be immediate and unforgiving. Military commanders would not stop the campaign, but shift focus:

• Attempting daring rescue operations, even at high risk, using elite special forces.
• Tightening the encirclement of Gaza City, cutting off Hamas’ ability to move or hide captives.
• Striking command centers and tunnel systems with greater ferocity, arguing that Hamas itself has turned hostage sites into legitimate targets.
• Escalating bombardments on areas still sheltering Hamas leadership, on the grounds that Hamas has already committed an atrocity by hiding behind civilians.

Israeli officials would frame such actions not as departures from international norms but as forced by Hamas’ choices. As Katz has warned before, if Hamas refuses to release hostages, Gaza City could face the same devastation already visited on Rafah and Beit Hanoun.

The coming stage

The first hours of the operation suggest a methodical advance, but analysts warn that the next stage will be far more brutal. Fighting in the alleys and high-rises of Gaza City is expected to be house-to-house, tunnel-to-tunnel. IDF commanders are preparing for weeks of grinding combat. The city is already being cut off, with Israeli forces pushing to choke Hamas’ supply lines and isolate its fighters.

For Israel, the battle for Gaza City is not just about eliminating a terrorist army but about demonstrating that hostage-taking and human shielding will never succeed as a strategy. Rubio’s words — “agents of barbarism” — and Trump’s threat that “all bets are off” framed the confrontation in the starkest possible terms.

As night fell over Gaza City, artillery thundered and flares illuminated the shattered skyline. For Israel, the offensive has begun with a clear message: the war will not end until the hostages are free and Hamas is broken, no matter the cost.