Israeli forces continue heavy bombardment of Gaza City, killing scores, demolishing homes, and displacing nearly half a million Palestinians.
At least 91 Palestinians have been killed across the Gaza Strip since dawn as Israel intensifies its military campaign on Gaza City, the enclave’s main urban center. Hospitals across Gaza reported that 76 of the dead were from Gaza City alone, where residents have faced weeks of forced expulsions under relentless Israeli bombardment.
In the Tuffah neighborhood, six Palestinians were killed in a drone strike, while five—including two young girls—were killed in western Gaza City’s Shati refugee camp. Ambulance services confirmed the casualties, highlighting the growing civilian toll of attacks in residential areas.
The Israeli army estimates it has demolished about 20 high-rise towers in the city over the past two weeks. According to Gaza’s Civil Defence, roughly 450,000 people—half of Gaza City’s prewar population—have fled since Israel announced plans in August to capture and occupy the area.
Field reports suggest that civilians are being targeted even as they attempt to flee. Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary described Israeli forces using quadcopters and robotic devices that explode among fleeing residents, “making the ground feel like an earthquake.”
Meanwhile, Hamas released what it called a “farewell picture” of 48 Israeli captives still held in Gaza, warning that Israel’s escalating attacks endanger their lives. The group claims captives are dispersed across Gaza City, complicating the risks of further airstrikes and ground operations.
In southern Gaza, the situation remains dire. At least three people were killed by Israeli fire while trying to collect aid at a distribution center near Rafah. In al-Mawasi, an area designated by Israel as a “safe zone,” overcrowding has forced displaced families to live in roadside tents without access to water or electricity.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) described the conditions in al-Mawasi as “heartbreaking.” Michail Fotiadis of MSF said displaced Palestinians continue to arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs. “Everybody is looking for a place to pitch a tent, but the materials are not available. The situation is really dire for the population. Access to water is very difficult,” he said.
Fotiadis warned that the cycle of displacement and trauma has pushed residents “beyond desperation,” underscoring the severe humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
