Israeli military forces destroyed a second high-rise building in Gaza City on Saturday, intensifying their assault as part of a broader offensive to control the area, with the IDF claiming Hamas use and ordering evacuations amid a severe humanitarian crisis. The strike on the Sussi Tower followed a similar demolition of the Mushtaha Tower the previous day, as Defense Minister Israel Katz shared footage and emphasized continued operations.
The Israeli Defense Forces targeted the Sussi Tower with precise munitions, asserting it was used by Hamas militants for operational purposes, a claim denied by the group. No immediate casualty reports were available, but the IDF stated precautionary measures, including advance warnings, were taken to mitigate harm to civilians. This action is part of Israel’s expanded operations in Gaza City, where the military claims to have established control over 40% of the area.
Concurrently, the IDF issued evacuation orders via leaflets and social media, urging Palestinians to relocate to designated humanitarian zones in the south, such as al-Mawasi and parts of Khan Younis. Military spokesman Avichay Adraee promised provisions of medical care, water, and food in these areas, encouraging residents to join thousands who have already moved. However, the United Nations and aid organizations have repeatedly warned that these zones are overcrowded, unsafe, and lack adequate infrastructure, with recent incidents of violence, including drone strikes that killed children.
Gaza City is grappling with a declared famine by the UN, resulting from Israel’s restrictions on aid, and nearly one million people remain trapped, many displaced multiple times. Aid groups highlight extreme food and water shortages, with many residents too weak or having nowhere to go, exacerbating the humanitarian disaster. The UN estimates that malnutrition and starvation have caused hundreds of deaths during the war, beyond the direct conflict casualties.
Casualties from the intensified assaults are rising; on Friday, prior to the latest strike, 15 people were killed in Israeli bombardments, including a family of five in the Shati refugee camp and civilians seeking aid near crossings. The Gaza Health Ministry, run by Hamas, reports over 64,000 Palestinian deaths since the war began, with women and children comprising around half, and thousands more injured or suffering from starvation.
This escalation follows Israel’s announcement last month of its intention to seize full control of Gaza City after ceasefire and hostage release negotiations with Hamas broke down in July. The destruction of high-rise buildings, which symbolized post-Oslo Accords development hopes, underscores the extensive damage, with satellite imagery showing entire neighborhoods leveled over the past month. Palestinians accuse Israel of enacting a policy of forced displacement, while the IDF maintains its actions are necessary to dismantle Hamas infrastructure.
The situation has sparked protests in Israel, where hostage families fear for the safety of captives still held by Hamas, who recently released a propaganda video showing two hostages. International efforts for a ceasefire remain stalled, with Israel demanding Hamas disarm and release all hostages, and Hamas resisting terms that include Israeli security control over Gaza. The conflict, which began with Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and abducting 251, shows no signs of abating.
Looking ahead, the humanitarian crisis is expected to worsen with continued military operations, and aid groups call for immediate de-escalation and access to provide essential services. The international community, including the UN, urges a return to negotiations to prevent further loss of life and address the root causes of the conflict, but with both sides entrenched, a resolution appears distant.