Gaza City Under Intense Assault as Israel Plans Further Offensive; Hamas confirms Death of Key Leader
Gaza City – Israeli forces intensified attacks on the suburbs of Gaza City overnight, employing both airstrikes and ground shelling that residents say has destroyed homes and triggered further displacement. The escalating violence comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet prepares to discuss a plan for the full seizure of the city, a move that threatens to deepen the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
At least 18 Palestinians were killed in the last 24 hours, according to local health authorities. A particularly tragic incident saw 13 people killed while attempting to access food near an aid distribution point in central Gaza. Two more were reported dead following strikes on a residential building in Gaza City itself. The Israeli military stated they are reviewing these reports.
“They are crawling into the heart of the city where hundreds of thousands are sheltering, from the east, north, and south, while bombing those areas from the air and ground to scare people to leave,” a resident of Sheikh Radwan, one of Gaza City’s largest neighborhoods, told reporters. Residents report continuous tank shelling and airstrikes over the past two days, forcing families to seek refuge in the western parts of the city.
[Image of Smoke rises after Israeli forces carry out strikes on a neighbourhood in Gaza City]
The Israeli military has steadily increased its operations around Gaza City over the last three weeks. Friday marked the end of temporary pauses in fighting that had allowed for limited aid deliveries, with the area now officially designated a “hazardous combat zone.” This decision effectively cuts off vital assistance to a population already facing severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
Netanyahu’s Cabinet to Discuss Offensive
An Israeli official confirmed that Netanyahu’s security cabinet will meet this evening to deliberate on the next phases of the planned offensive aimed at capturing Gaza City, which the Prime Minister has labeled Hamas’s final stronghold.While a full-scale ground offensive is not anticipated immediately, Israel maintains its intention to evacuate civilians before deploying additional ground troops.Hamas Confirms Death of Mohammed Sinwar
In a separate development, Hamas has confirmed the death of mohammed Sinwar, the presumed leader of its operations in gaza. The confirmation comes more than three months after Israel announced his killing in an airstrike. Images released by the group yesterday depicted Sinwar alongside other deceased leaders, described as “martyrs of the military council.”
Mohammed Sinwar, the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar – accused by Israel of orchestrating the October 7th attacks - reportedly led the Al-Qassam Brigades’ military council following the death of commander Mohammed Deif. Israel claims to have identified Sinwar’s body in June within a tunnel beneath the European Hospital in Khan Yunis.
Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis
The current conflict began with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October
