IDF Strikes Gaza City High-Rise Alleged to House Hamas Infrastructure
The Israeli Defense Forces targeted a high-rise in Gaza City, citing its use by Hamas for military operations, and urged residents to evacuate to designated humanitarian zones.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) conducted an airstrike on a high-rise building in Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa neighborhood on Saturday, following evacuation warnings to residents. The IDF stated that Hamas operatives utilized the al-Susi high-rise for surveillance and had placed explosive devices nearby to target Israeli troops. Additionally, the building was reportedly adjacent to underground infrastructure used to direct terror activities.
Prior to the strike, the IDF issued evacuation orders for the al-Susi building and the Al-Ruya high-rise in the city center, urging residents to move to designated humanitarian zones in southern Gaza. The military emphasized that these areas were being used by Hamas for military purposes and would be targeted imminently.
Medical sources in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip reported at least 21 people killed in Israeli strikes across the region since dawn on Saturday, including 13 in Gaza City. Additionally, six individuals, including a child, reportedly died from malnutrition over the past 24 hours. These figures could not be independently verified.
The IDF has called on Gaza City residents to evacuate to a new humanitarian zone in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, equipped with field hospitals, water pipelines, and desalination facilities. The military stated that relief efforts would continue in cooperation with the UN and international organizations.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty criticized the displacement of Palestinians, stating it would be "nonsense" to describe it as voluntary. He emphasized that displacement means the end of the Palestinian cause and lacks legal, moral, or ethical grounds.
The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant casualties. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reports over 64,000 people killed in the Strip, though these figures cannot be independently verified and do not differentiate between civilians and fighters. Israel states it has killed over 22,000 combatants in battle as of August and another 1,600 terrorists inside Israel during the initial onslaught.