Gaza Cityโ Devastated as Israeli Forces Advance, UN Accuses Israel of Genocide
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 – โฃ07:48 p.m. – Agencies
Gaza Cityโ is largely in ruins following sustained Israeliโ airstrikes,โค as Israeli groundโ operations expand deeper into the city center. โฃThe escalation comes amid โstatements from Israeli Defense โฃMinister Yisrael Katz suggesting the potential for complete destruction of the city.
On Wednesday,โฃ the Israeli army announced the temporary opening of a humanitarian corridor for movement from Gaza City south via Salah al-Din Street. โคHowever, 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 livesโข near Al-shawa Square,described a terrifying โขexplosion at dawn onโ Tuesday. “I heard the sounds of an explosion โthat shookโฃ the landโฆ the Israeli armyโ targeted a residential square that includes the homes โof 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 โby โขthe population,and a large number of citizens [are] under the rubble and screaming,” Ghazal stated,accordingโ to Arabic โคsources.
Another resident, Abu Abdul Zaqout,โข offered a harrowing account: “We pulled the children after they turned into body parts.”
Mahmoud Bella,a spokesman for Gaza’s Civil Defense,confirmed โฃthe ongoing intensity of the bombing. “The bombing is still heavily on the Gaza City and the numbers of dead and โคinjuries [are] increasing.”
Israel announced on Tuesday the commencement of the “basic” stage of its offensive on Gaza โcity, stating its forces were expanding ground operations. โค
simultaneously, โขan independent โinternational investigation committee mandated by the United Nations has accused Israel of committing “genocide” in the Gaza Strip during the conflict that began โขafter the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israeli bases and settlements originating from within gaza. This marks the firstโค time such a committee has reached this conclusion.
The United Nations estimates approximately one โmillion people resided in and around Gaza City prior to the recent escalation. Israeli estimates indicateโ around 350,000 have been displaced. Thousands are fleeing south under fire, facing a โlack ofโ safe havens, while โขothers โremain inโ Gaza, unwilling to leave for the uncertain conditions elsewhere.
Context: The โคcurrent conflictโ represents a โnotable 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.โข The situation in Gaza has been characterized by a severe humanitarian crisis, with limited access to essential resources โand widespread destruction of infrastructure. The accusation of genocide by the UN committee adds a new layerโฃ ofโข international scrutiny to the conflict.