Israeli forces advance into Gaza City as airstrikes and explosives force civilians to flee amid escalating conflict.
Cairo
Israeli forces pushed tanks further into Gaza City on Monday and detonated explosives-laden vehicles in the eastern Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, while airstrikes killed at least 19 civilians, Palestinian officials and witnesses reported. Residents described chaotic scenes, with families fleeing homes as explosions and drone surveillance continued through the night. Leaflets dropped by the Israeli military urged residents to move south, warning of an expanded offensive.
The International Association of Genocide Scholars said Israel’s actions in Gaza meet the legal criteria for genocide, though Israel has denied such allegations. Israeli officials did not immediately respond to the city offensive or the scholars’ statement.
Israel is advancing a plan to take full control of Gaza, aiming to dismantle Hamas and rescue the remaining 48 hostages held since the October 2023 attacks. Gaza health authorities reported at least 98 Palestinians killed in the past 24 hours, with nine more deaths from starvation and malnutrition, bringing such fatalities to 348, including 127 children. Israel disputes the hunger-related figures, attributing the deaths to other medical causes.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security cabinet meeting Sunday to plan the Gaza City offensive, amid warnings that the operation could endanger hostages. Protests in Israel demanding an end to the war and the release of hostages have intensified.
Since October 2023, over 63,000 people, mostly civilians, have died in Gaza due to the conflict, which continues to devastate the enclave and its humanitarian situation. Ceasefire negotiations remain stalled.
