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Israel’s military on Wednesday released images of its soldiers and tanks pushing deep into Gaza City, in what it called one of its most extensive ground operations since the war began.
Footage shared by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) showed armed troops advancing through the rubble of the battered enclave, backed by tanks and artillery fire. The army said that in the past two days, it had struck more than 150 “terrorist targets” across Gaza City to support advancing ground units.
"The goal is not to punish Israel but to improve humanitarian aid in Gaza,” -EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas
The operation comes after the military confirmed Tuesday that it had formally launched its long-planned offensive in Gaza’s largest city, once home to up to a million people. But with food shortages worsening and relentless bombardment continuing, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been fleeing south in the last 24 hours to escape the ground invasion.
Large parts of Gaza City have already been flattened in months of strikes. Hospitals that remain open are overwhelmed, with medics warning that famine and mounting casualties are pushing the humanitarian crisis to new extremes.
Meanwhile, the escalation in Gaza has also triggered a shift in Europe. The European Commission has proposed suspending trade perks for Israeli exports, sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers, and measures targeting violent settlers, steps that mark the most serious cooling of ties between the EU and Israel in years.
The plan, unveiled last week by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, comes in response to what she called the “man-made famine” in Gaza. Trade between the EU and Israel totaled €42.6 billion in 2024, with roughly €5.8 billion benefiting from preferential treatment that Brussels now seeks to freeze.
Those targeted include Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who face EU entry bans and asset freezes. At the same time, the EU plans to suspend €20 million in direct financial support for Israeli projects while keeping aid flowing to humanitarian groups and civil society.
“The goal is not to punish Israel but to improve humanitarian aid in Gaza,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.
Still, the measures face resistance. Germany, Italy, and several Eastern European states have signaled opposition, raising doubts over whether the required qualified majority of EU countries will approve the package.
