Israel-Gaza live updates: France, UK, Canada recognize Palestinian statehood

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement posted to social media on Wednesday that Israeli troops "began a broad ground operation into the heart of Gaza City."

"We are launching a powerful attack on the Hamas stronghold in Gaza City," the IDF said, noting that Israel's 98th Division "entered maneuvers in the heart of Gaza City."

"The maneuvering forces entered the divisional attack area, accompanied by fire support from the air and sea," the post said.

"As part of the fire envelope, dozens of terrorist infrastructures were attacked, including military buildings, observation posts and booby-trapped structures intended to harm forces operating in the area," it added.

Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar called the European Commission's proposal to suspend trade-related provisions in Israel's agreement with the European Union "disproportionate," in a letter Tuesday.

The European Union's College of Commissioners is set to hold a meeting on Wednesday regarding the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen's proposal to put political pressure on Israel by suspending trade-related provisions in the E.U.-Israel Association Agreement.

"This unprecedented proposal, that has never been implemented against any other country, constitutes a clear attempt to harm Israel while we are still fighting a war imposed on us by the October 7 terror attack -- the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust," Sa'ar said in the letter.

"Pressure through sanctions will not work. The State of Israel is a proud sovereign nation, and we will not be bent through threats while Israel's security is at stake. As has been clearly stated by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, initiatives of this nature embolden Hamas, harden its stance, and undermine progress toward potential agreements. These kinds of measures will also harm European citizens as it will raise prices of commodities," he said.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

Video shows Palestinians evacuating from northern Gaza and heading south on Tuesday, fleeing after Israeli forces expanded their ground offensive in Gaza City.

People can be seen in the footage fleeing by any means necessary -- by car, sitting on top of their belongings with others piled onto flat-bed trucks or walking.

Some were seen carrying belongings over their heads or on their shoulders.

People continued to make their way south as the sun went down on Tuesday evening and as it became dark.

The IDF said on Monday that about 300,000 people already left Gaza City in the past few weeks. That leaves an estimated 700,000 civilians still in the city who remain under heavy bombardment.

It is unclear how many people have left since the IDF began their expanded ground offensive Monday evening.

-ABC News' Diaa Ostaz

Hostage families plan to establish a "permanent encampment" outside of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters said in a release Tuesday.

The families thanked President Donald Trump for his "ongoing support," but asked him to urge Netanyahu to make a deal and end the war.

"Our Prime Minister Netanyahu is not listening to our cries to save the hostages and end this war -- but he will listen to you! Bring him to the table for a deal that will bring everyone home!" the families said in a joint statement.

Protests outside Netanyahu's residence have begun.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller