Israel Attacks Gaza City as Troops Move for Full-Scale Invasion

Escalation of Conflict in Gaza City

Israel has intensified its military operations in Gaza City, with reports of a high-rise residential tower being bombed after an evacuation order was issued to Palestinian civilians. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reiterated the evacuation directive on Sunday, following a similar warning the previous day. Residents living near the Al-Ruya building and nearby tents were informed that the area would soon be targeted.

Palestinian sources claim the building is being used as shelter for displaced families. However, Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic language spokesman, stated that the strike would occur due to the presence of Hamas terrorist infrastructure within or near the structure. It remains unclear whether any casualties have been reported.

Adraee urged civilians to move southward to the humanitarian zone in the Al Muwasi area in Khan Younis, where the IDF claims “humanitarian infrastructure” is available. This includes field hospitals, water pipelines, desalination facilities, and continued distribution of food and medicines. According to the IDF, approximately 1,900 trucks have been involved in collecting and distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza over the past week.

The increase in aid efforts follows intense international pressure on Israel to address the dire conditions in Gaza. Meanwhile, the IDF has escalated air strikes against high-rise buildings in Gaza City.

Government Statements and Civilian Evacuation Orders

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that around 100,000 Palestinians had left Gaza City ahead of the anticipated ground invasion. He accused Hamas of trying to prevent civilians from leaving, using them as human shields. Netanyahu emphasized that the focus should be on targeting terrorists and enabling the civilian population to evacuate. He described the operations in Gaza City as part of a broader effort to "crush the stranglehold by the Iranian axis."

Hamas has urged civilians to remain in their "residential areas" and ignore the evacuation orders, asserting that there are no safe zones in southern Gaza. According to UN estimates, about one million civilians still reside in Gaza City.

Netanyahu also mentioned that the IDF was deepening its maneuvers on the outskirts of Gaza City and within the city itself. The IDF has been operating in the Zeitoun neighborhood, adjacent to Gaza City, for weeks. On Sunday, soldiers dismantled a tunnel that extended hundreds of meters. Inside, they discovered an operations room used by Hamas's Zeitoun Battalion to coordinate attacks against IDF troops.

Military Operations and International Reactions

The IDF has conducted multiple operations in the area, targeting terror sites such as observation posts and weapons storage facilities. These actions are seen as direct threats to IDF forces in the region. Additional air strikes were reported in Gaza City on Sunday, with one video showing an attack on a building in a narrow street, where civilians were in close proximity to the scene.

An Israeli official confirmed to The Telegraph that the IDF is expected to invade Gaza City within a week, with approximately 60,000 reserve soldiers mobilized.

World leaders have expressed concerns about the potential impact of the invasion on civilians caught in the crossfire between Israel and Hamas. Netanyahu acknowledged the "public diplomacy damage" Israel is facing, including accusations of war crimes and starvation in Gaza. He stated, "If I need to choose between victory over our enemies and malicious propaganda against us, I choose victory over our enemies."

Political Tensions and Hostage Issues

Yair Lapid, Israel’s opposition leader, criticized Netanyahu for not making sufficient efforts to bring Israeli hostages back home. He highlighted a potential hostage deal that could be finalized but warned against inaction. Last month, Hamas agreed to a 60-day ceasefire that would involve the release of 10 living and 18 dead hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

As Israel continues to urge civilians in Gaza City to evacuate, the Houthi rebels in Yemen launched another wave of drones at Israel, with one targeting Ramon airport. The IDF is investigating why sirens were not activated during the drone attack, which resulted in shattered glass and one injury. Three other drones were shot down after crossing Israeli territory from Egypt.