Israeli Forces Advance in Gaza City
Israeli Forces Advance on Gaza City as Residents Face Rising Violence
Gaza City — Israeli forces have taken control of the eastern suburbs of Gaza City and, in recent days, have intensified strikes on the Sheikh Radwan and Tel Al-Hawa neighborhoods, positioning themselves to push into central and western areas where most residents are sheltering.
“We are scared, but what can we do?” said Bassam Al-Qanou, a displaced man staying with about 30 family members in a makeshift tent camp along the city’s beach. “We have no way to leave, and nowhere to go.”
The Gaza health ministry reported that at least 85 Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours, most in Gaza City, due to Israeli strikes and gunfire. Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed that four of its personnel were killed in southern Gaza during combat.
Since the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, 48 hostages remain in Gaza. Israeli officials say around 20 are still alive.
Tensions have also escalated elsewhere in the region. Israel carried out strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, and two Israelis were killed at Allenby Crossing, the border point between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan, in what the Israeli military called a terror attack.
Infantry, Tanks, and Artillery Move Towards Gaza City
Israeli army spokesperson Nadav Shoshani said troops have been operating around Gaza City for weeks. Since Monday night, large numbers of soldiers, supported by tanks, artillery, and air force units, have begun advancing into the inner city in a gradual push that is expected to intensify.
Families of Israeli hostages are urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt the offensive and negotiate a ceasefire with Hamas to secure the release of their loved ones.
Hamas’ armed wing stated on Thursday that the hostages are being held across various neighborhoods in Gaza City. “The start of this criminal operation and its expansion means you will not receive any captive, alive or dead,” the group said in a written statement.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, responded on social media, saying: “If Hamas does not release the hostages and disarm, Gaza will be destroyed and turned into a monument to the rapists and murderers of Hamas.”
Communication Blackouts and Mass Displacement
The Palestinian Telecommunications Company reported that services were temporarily cut off “due to the ongoing aggression and the targeting of main network routes.” By nightfall, fixed internet and landline services were restored, though connectivity remains fragile.
“The disconnection of internet and phone services is a bad omen. It has always signaled something brutal is about to happen,” said Ismail, a resident using an e-SIM to stay connected—a risky move that requires moving to higher ground.
Since Israel announced on August 10 its intent to take control of Gaza City, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have fled. Many others remain, either in damaged homes or makeshift tent camps, facing growing uncertainty and danger as the conflict escalates.
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