Deir al-Balah, Sep 5: On Friday, Israel escalated its military offensive in Gaza City, striking a high-rise building in the Rimal neighborhood after issuing evacuation warnings.
The operation is part of a broader push to seize control of the densely populated and famine-stricken city, where around one million Palestinians remain. The targeted structure, the Mushtaha tower, was reportedly sheltering displaced civilians who had fled earlier bombardments. Satellite images showed numerous tents around the site. It remains unclear if the strike caused any casualties.
According to the Israeli military, the strike was carried out because Hamas was allegedly using high-rise buildings in Gaza for surveillance and ambush planning. The military warned that more “precise, targeted strikes” on militant infrastructure would follow in the coming days.
Overnight into Friday, Israeli airstrikes across Gaza City killed at least 27 people, including six members of a single family, according to Gaza’s Shifa Hospital. Israel maintains that it only targets militants and blames Hamas for civilian deaths, asserting that the group uses heavily populated civilian areas as shields. Nonetheless, the ongoing offensive has sparked strong international condemnation and domestic opposition within Israel.
Israel has declared Gaza City a combat zone, issuing repeated evacuation orders. Residents are in a state of fear, especially those who returned after previous displacement, amid uncertainty about safety and lack of shelter. The war has already displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population.
Domestically, Israelis have launched protests against the government’s handling of the war, especially over the fate of hostages still held in Gaza. There are 48 confirmed hostages remaining, with 20 believed to be alive. Families of the hostages have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prolonging the war for political gain, rather than negotiating a ceasefire to secure the hostages’ release.
On Friday, Hamas released a video showing two hostages—Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel—in Gaza City. Gilboa-Dalal, speaking under apparent duress, called for an end to the war and the return of hostages. He was last seen in a video more than six months ago.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and abducting 251. In response, Israel launched a massive military campaign in Gaza. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 64,000 Palestinians have since been killed, with women and children accounting for about half the death toll. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its reporting.
Israel has stated that it will not end the war until all hostages are released and Hamas is disarmed. It also plans to maintain long-term security control over Gaza. In contrast, Hamas demands a complete Israeli withdrawal, a lasting ceasefire, and the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the remaining hostages.
As fighting intensifies, the humanitarian crisis worsens, and prospects for peace remain bleak. The international community continues to call for restraint and renewed efforts toward a ceasefire, but both sides remain entrenched in their positions. (AP)
