On Saturday morning, another city in Gaza reported being used by Hamas.
The airstrikes came soon after the Israeli Defense Forces dropped leaflets over Gaza, urging residents to evacuate for their safety.
One of the messages read, “The Israeli army is operating with great force in your area and is determined to dismantle and defeat Hamas,” as noted by reports from the Israeli era.
“Evacuate immediately for your safety… You are being warned,” the leaflets continued.
The Israeli Defense Forces claimed that Hamas has been using residential towers to stage military operations against Israeli troops. A recent strike targeted a skyscraper linked to Hamas.
The Israeli Minister of Defense remarked that the “hurricane storm continues to attack Gaza,” sharing a video showing significant destruction in Gaza City, with a thick cloud of black smoke rising.
The United Nations has raised alarms about a humanitarian crisis, pointing out that about one million Palestinians are still living in Gaza City.
Recent reports indicate that around 100,000 Palestinians have fled the region over the past month.
With nearly a million residents estimated to be in Gaza City, plans to take control are facing pushback both domestically and internationally, predominantly due to concerns for civilian lives and hostages.
Israeli security officials cautioned that efforts to take Gaza City would take months and could “inevitably” result in the deaths of hostages, as reported by public broadcaster Kang.
This week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced criticism following an attack on Hamas in Doha, which many allege failed to achieve its intended goals.
There are ongoing concerns about the safety of hostages, with Israeli officials stating that 48 are still held by terrorist groups. Of those, 26 have been confirmed dead, leaving serious apprehensions about the fate of the remaining individuals.
