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Israel announced its launched "expanded ground operations" in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza City on Tuesday (September 16), while a United Nations committee has formally accused it of committing genocide, NBC News reports.
The Israeli military said troops "have begun expanded ground operations in Gaza City" which is part of what it's calling Operation Gideon's Chariots II.
"The troops’ activity began according to the operational plan and is expected to expand in line with the current situational assessment," the military said via NBC News.
More than 850 "terror targets" and "hundreds of terrorists" in Gaza City were reportedly struck by the Israeli Air Force during the past week, according to a statement shared by the Israeli Defense Force. The IDF said its troops were operating in the security zone along the western border and would continue operating near the northern part of the Gaza enclave.
A United Nations commission comprised of a team of independent experts formally accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and called on the international community to end the campaign.
“The international community cannot stay silent on the genocidal campaign launched by Israel against the Palestinian people in Gaza. When clear signs and evidence of genocide emerge, the absence of action to stop it amounts to complicity,” said Navi Pillay, chair of the commission, via NBC News. “Every day of inaction costs lives and erodes the credibility of the international community."
Israel, which launched its war with Hamas following the terror attacks on a music festival in October 2023, rejected the accusations as "distorted and false." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel now only has "a very short window" to reach a cease-fire deal with Hamas following the launching of expanded ground operations.