Israeli Forces Advance into Gaza City Amid Intensified Offensive
Israeli troops and tanks have advanced further into Gaza City, leading to increased evacuations and communication disruptions, as the Palestinian death toll surpasses 65,000.
Israeli military forces have intensified their ground offensive in Gaza City, with troops and tanks advancing deeper into the area. This escalation has prompted a significant number of residents to flee, while airstrikes have disrupted phone and internet services, complicating efforts for Palestinians to seek medical assistance.
The Palestinian death toll has now exceeded 65,000, according to local health officials. The Israeli military reported conducting over 150 air and artillery strikes in recent days, targeting high-rise buildings that, according to Israel, were utilized by Hamas for surveillance purposes.
The disruption of communication services has severely hindered Palestinians' ability to call for help, coordinate evacuations, or share information about the ongoing offensive. Overnight strikes resulted in at least 16 fatalities, including women and children, as reported by hospital officials. The Gaza Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, stated that 65,062 Palestinians have been killed and 165,697 wounded since the conflict began on October 7, 2023. The ministry does not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties, but its figures are considered reliable by the United Nations and various independent experts.
The conflict has led to widespread destruction in Gaza, displacing approximately 90% of the population and causing a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts indicating that Gaza City is experiencing famine. In response, Israel has opened a corridor south of Gaza City for two days to facilitate further evacuations.
Israeli forces have previously conducted large-scale raids into Gaza City, only to see militants regroup. This time, Israel has pledged to take full control of the city. The Israeli military stated that it takes steps to mitigate harm to civilians and will continue operations against "terrorist organizations" in Gaza.
The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel in 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 251 others. Forty-eight hostages remain in Gaza, with fewer than half believed to be alive.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that multiple Israeli strikes hit the Rantisi Hospital for children in Gaza City, causing damage to the facility and forcing half of the 80 patients to flee. About 40 patients, including children in intensive care and premature babies, remained in the hospital with 30 medical workers.
The Israeli military stated it was reviewing the incident and has previously accused Hamas of building military infrastructure within civilian areas. The military's Arabic-language spokesperson announced the opening of a new route for residents heading south for two days.
Many Palestinians in the north have been cut off from the outside world due to Israeli strikes on main network lines, which have severed internet and telephone services. The Israeli military stated it does not deliberately target public communication networks.
An estimated 1 million Palestinians resided in the Gaza City region before evacuation warnings began. The Israeli military estimates that 350,000 people have left the city.
Hamas senior official Ghazi Hamad made his first public appearance following an Israeli strike on the group in Qatar earlier this month. In a live interview, Hamad accused the United States of being a biased mediator and siding with Israel.
A coalition of leading aid groups has urged the international community to take stronger measures to stop Israel's offensive on Gaza City, following a U.N. commission's finding that Israel is committing genocide in the Palestinian enclave. Israel denies the allegation.
Israel's far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, suggested that Gaza could be a "real estate bonanza" and mentioned discussions with the Trump administration on sharing the proceeds. Smotrich stated that a "business plan" has been submitted to U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasizing the need to rebuild after the demolition phase of urban renewal.