Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz was highly critical of a new U.N. report accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, warning that those involved could face sanctions.

Israel has begun a ground assault to seize what it calls a Hamas stronghold inside Gaza City. A United Nations commission said Israel is committing genocide.

It was the first time any of Vermont's congressional leaders had used the term to describe Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The United States vetoed on Thursday a draft United Nations Security Council resolution that would have demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and that Israel lift all restrictions on aid deliveries to the Palestinian enclave.

Israel’s initial bombardment of Gaza City, conducted after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks in 2023, left large parts of the city in ruins. But in the nearly two years since, according to Reuters, about 1 million people have returned to Gaza City to find shelter.

The Israeli military began a ground offensive in Gaza City, the Israel Defense Forces said on Tuesday, with two IDF divisions moving into the city.

Officials held a security briefing on Thursday to discuss how both local and federal enforcement will work together to ensure safety ahead of the United Nations General Assembly.It's the largest gathering of world leaders on the planet and when more than 150 heads of state and their entourages descend on the United Nations next week,

The European Union has proposed restricting trade with Israel and sanctioning ministers in its strongest action so far over the war in Gaza.

The United States and Israel have sent complaint letters to top U.N. officials contesting the impartiality of their staff over the Gaza war, documents showed, as hundreds of U.N. staff protested outside its European headquarters on Thursday.