CAIRO
The Israeli military advanced deeper into Gaza City on Wednesday, targeting Sheikh Radwan, one of the city’s most densely populated neighborhoods. Soldiers and tanks moved closer to the urban center after weeks of operations through the city’s outskirts, despite international calls to halt the offensive.
Residents reported widespread destruction, with homes and tent encampments housing displaced Palestinians flattened. Local health authorities said at least 24 Palestinians, including children, were killed on Wednesday, mostly in Gaza City. Witnesses described schools, used as shelters for displaced families, being hit by grenades, and ambulances destroyed when a medical clinic was bombed. Drones reportedly broadcast messages ordering residents to evacuate the area.
Israeli authorities stated the operations aim to target Hamas and remove threats to Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to capture Gaza City, calling it the last Hamas stronghold, and insisted that operations will continue until a “decisive victory” is achieved.
The offensive risks displacing nearly one million Palestinians, roughly half Gaza’s population. Many families already displaced are reluctant to leave. Humanitarian conditions are dire, with 367 deaths reported from starvation and malnutrition due to acute food shortages, while Israeli officials deny the existence of famine.
