Gaza City Devastated as Israeli Forces Advance, UN Accuses Israel of Genocide
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 – 07:48 p.m. – Agencies
Gaza City is largely in ruins following sustained Israeli airstrikes, as Israeli ground operations expand deeper into the city center. The escalation comes amid statements from Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz suggesting the potential for complete destruction of the city.
On Wednesday, the Israeli army announced the temporary opening of a humanitarian corridor for movement from Gaza City south via Salah al-Din Street. However, conditions on the ground remain dire.
“There is heavy shelling in Gaza City, which is not calm, adn the danger is increasing,” said Ahmed Ghazal, a resident of the city. Ghazal,25,who lives near Al-shawa Square,described a terrifying explosion at dawn on Tuesday. “I heard the sounds of an explosion that shook the land… the Israeli army targeted a residential square that includes the homes of many families, and 3 houses [were] destroyed.” He reported that many civilians remain trapped under rubble. “Most of the houses that have been destroyed so far are inhabited by the population,and a large number of citizens [are] under the rubble and screaming,” Ghazal stated,according to Arabic sources.
Another resident, Abu Abdul Zaqout, offered a harrowing account: “We pulled the children after they turned into body parts.”
Mahmoud Bella,a spokesman for Gaza’s Civil Defense,confirmed the ongoing intensity of the bombing. “The bombing is still heavily on the Gaza City and the numbers of dead and injuries [are] increasing.”
Israel announced on Tuesday the commencement of the “basic” stage of its offensive on Gaza city, stating its forces were expanding ground operations.
simultaneously, an independent international investigation committee mandated by the United Nations has accused Israel of committing “genocide” in the Gaza Strip during the conflict that began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israeli bases and settlements originating from within gaza. This marks the first time such a committee has reached this conclusion.
The United Nations estimates approximately one million people resided in and around Gaza City prior to the recent escalation. Israeli estimates indicate around 350,000 have been displaced. Thousands are fleeing south under fire, facing a lack of safe havens, while others remain in Gaza, unwilling to leave for the uncertain conditions elsewhere.
Context: The current conflict represents a notable escalation in the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The October 7th Hamas attack resulted in significant Israeli casualties and triggered a large-scale military response. The situation in Gaza has been characterized by a severe humanitarian crisis, with limited access to essential resources and widespread destruction of infrastructure. The accusation of genocide by the UN committee adds a new layer of international scrutiny to the conflict.
