Israeli forces intensified their offensive in Gaza City on Sunday, blowing up multiple residential buildings and killing at least 31 Palestinians, Gazan health authorities reported. Among the casualties were a pregnant woman and her two young children, highlighting the heartbreaking toll on families.
Now nearly two years into the conflict, Israel describes Gaza City as Hamas’s last stronghold. Since launching its ground assault earlier this month, the Israeli military says it has demolished housing blocks suspected of sheltering militants.
"The mother, the boy, the girl, and the baby in her womb – we found them all gone," said Mosallam Al-Hadad, whose son was seriously injured. His words paint a stark picture of the human cost unfolding on the streets of Gaza City.
In a statement on Saturday, Israel’s military said its forces had killed "numerous" militants and discovered new weapons caches. Witnesses on the ground reported Israeli tanks advancing through Tel Al-Hawa, a southeastern suburb, as civilians fled their homes.
Displacement has surged: the Israeli military estimates over 450,000 people have left Gaza City since September began, while Hamas puts the figure closer to 300,000 and says around 900,000 residents remain in the city.
Southern Israel also felt the conflict’s ripple effects. Air raid sirens warned of rockets fired from Gaza, one intercepted and another landing in an open field. No casualties were reported, but the alerts underscored the fighting’s reach.
Abroad, some Western allies have criticized the Gaza City offensive and announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state ahead of the UN General Assembly. Back home, thousands rallied outside the official residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding a deal to end the war and free the remaining hostages still held by Hamas.
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Israeli strikes kill 31 people in Gaza City, as tanks advance
cgtn.com
