On Tuesday, Israel’s military announced its intention to employ “great force” in Gaza City and instructed civilians to evacuate as it intensified its lethal offensive on the largest metropolitan center in the Palestinian enclave.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a comparable warning as Israel escalated its shelling in anticipation of an assault to capture Gaza City, despite international appeals to cease hostilities.
“To all residents of Gaza City, the defense forces are resolute in their objective to vanquish Hamas and will employ significant force in the Gaza City region,” stated the military’s Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee in a post on X.
“Evacuate promptly through the Al-Rashid axis,” he stated.
An AFP photographer in Gaza City observed aircraft releasing several leaflets advising inhabitants to evacuate southward.
On Monday, Netanyahu released a video message declaring: “In two days, we have demolished 50 terror towers, and this is merely the initial phase of the intensified ground operation in Gaza City.” I inform the residents: You have been cautioned, evacuate now!”
“This is merely a prelude, an introduction to the primary intensified operation—the ground maneuver of our forces, who are currently organizing and preparing to enter Gaza City,” he stated.
The Palestinian militant organization Hamas, whose assault on Israel in October 2023 initiated the conflict in Gaza, asserted that Netanyahu’s warning constituted an “explicit act of forced displacement.”
Bombings and ambulances
The civil defense service of Gaza reported that Israeli airstrikes persisted throughout the night in Gaza City.
The organization reported that at least 39 individuals were murdered by Israel on Monday, including 25 in Gaza City.
Media limitations in Gaza and challenges in visiting numerous regions prevent AFP from independently verifying the casualties and information supplied by the civil defense organization or the Israeli military.
On Monday, Israeli forces bombed a fourth high-rise structure in Gaza City within four days, with AFP footage capturing the Al-Ruya tower collapsing immediately after the impact.
“We only hear bombings and ambulances transporting martyrs,” Laila Saqr, a local, informed AFP via telephone.
Saqr, 40, stated that she had frequented a gym in the tower biweekly, but now, “nothing remains”.
Israel obliterates all, including memories. If possible, they would remove the very oxygen from the atmosphere.
Israel asserted that Hamas utilized the tower for intelligence collection and had installed explosives within it. It had already cautioned homeowners and surrounding individuals to flee.
The IDF reported that four Israeli troops were murdered when Palestinian militants detonated an explosive device inside their tank.
– Final admonition –
The preparation for an operation to seize Gaza City occurs as negotiations to conclude the war have not produced an accord.
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump stated that “the Israelis have acquiesced to my terms.” Hamas must also accept this. I have cautioned Hamas of the repercussions of non-acceptance. This constitutes my final admonition.
Hamas announced its preparedness to “immediately engage in negotiations” in response to what it characterized as “proposals from the American side intended to achieve a ceasefire agreement”.
The US news outlet Axios stated that White House envoy Steve Witkoff sent a new plan for a Gaza hostage and peace agreement to Hamas last week.
The White House has not disclosed any specifics regarding the proposal; however, Trump stated, “you’ll be hearing about it pretty soon.”
Hamas consented last month to a ceasefire proposal entailing a 60-day armistice and phased hostage releases.
Israel has insisted that the militant organization simultaneously free all hostages, disarm, and cede control of Gaza, among other stipulations.
The Israeli military reports that 47 hostages are still in Gaza, with 25 presumed deceased.
The October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel resulted in 1,219 fatalities, predominantly among civilians, according to an AFP count based on Israeli statistics.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has resulted in the deaths of at least 64,522 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, as reported by the health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza, which the United Nations deems credible.
