Israeli forces have stepped up their ground operations in and around Gaza City, driving tanks into residential neighborhoods under the cover of relentless airstrikes and artillery fire. This expansion comes amid growing fears of a full-scale invasion of the densely populated enclave.
Tanks rolled into the Zeitoun and al-Sabra districts south of the city, and into Jabalia in the north, as warplanes pounded buildings, setting off explosions and "fire belts"—strips of land ignited by incendiary munitions. Dozens of families were forced to flee westward and southward, scrambling for safety in an increasingly perilous landscape.
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal reported that air and drone strikes hit homes, apartments, a school and tents for displaced people across the Strip. He added that Israeli forces opened fire on residents near two aid centers in central and southern Gaza. Since dawn, at least 25 people have been killed and dozens more wounded.
Hospitals, already crippled by damage and shortages, are struggling to cope with the influx of casualties. "The displaced do not know where to go. There are no safe areas left," Basal said, painting a grim picture of a territory on the brink of collapse.
The Hamas-run Gaza government media office condemned the threats to invade Gaza City—home to over 1 million people—warning that an assault would amount to "a major war crime" given the near-total collapse of the health system.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry urged decisive international action to halt what it called "Israel's deliberate policy" of famine. Officials argued that Gaza's hunger crisis was driven not by a lack of resources but by blockade and bombardment, and vowed to press their case through diplomatic and legal channels.
In a statement, the Israeli military said its troops had re-entered Jabalia to "further degrade Hamas' military capabilities," dismantling infrastructure above and below ground and preventing fighters from regrouping. It added that this activity would pave the way for combat to expand into additional areas.
Meanwhile, Hamas said it had agreed to a partial prisoner swap and was ready for a full truce but accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of blocking a deal despite mediation efforts by Egypt and Qatar. The group insisted that only a ceasefire could secure the release of all Israeli hostages.
Health authorities in Gaza report that since Israel intensified its offensive on March 18, at least 10,842 residents have been killed and 45,910 wounded. The total death toll since the war began in October 2023 now stands at 62,686, with 157,951 injured. Alarmingly, 289 people—115 of them children—have died from malnutrition or starvation, including eight in the past 24 hours.
As Gaza faces its darkest hour, residents continue to seek shelter and aid amid a humanitarian crisis that shows no sign of abating.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
