Israel’s military has announced plans to seize Gaza City, mobilizing 60,000 reservists and extending the service of 20,000 more to execute a large-scale offensive in one of Gaza’s most densely populated areas.
This move, approved by Defence Minister Israel Katz, aims to take control of the city, forcing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into southern concentration zones.
The operation intensifies an already dire humanitarian crisis, with most of Gaza’s residents displaced multiple times, neighborhoods reduced to rubble, and starvation deaths mounting amid fears of widespread famine.
The plan has drawn sharp criticism for its potential to exacerbate suffering in a region already devastated by nearly two years of genocide.
The Israeli military has begun operations in Gaza City’s Zeitoun and Jabalia neighborhoods, with artillery flattening homes and relentless airstrikes targeting densely populated areas.
Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum reported from central Gaza, describing a sleepless night of drone and warplane attacks that destroyed homes and makeshift camps.
The offensive has already killed at least 35 Palestinians, including 10 seeking aid, according to medical sources.
Israel’s designation of al-Mawasi as a so-called “safe zone” in southern Gaza has proven hollow, with strikes killing civilians, including children, in areas meant for refuge.
This escalation undermines international ceasefire efforts and raises fears of further mass displacement.
The planned displacement of Gaza City’s residents to southern zones, where infrastructure is scarce and safety is not guaranteed, has sparked outrage.
Human rights groups warn of a worsening crisis, with starvation and lack of aid pushing Gaza toward deeper famine.
Mediation efforts by Qatar and Egypt, backed by the U.S., propose a 60-day truce and hostage exchange, but Israel’s refusal to commit, coupled with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence on stringent conditions, stalls progress.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports 62,122 deaths since October 2023, mostly civilians, highlighting the devastating toll of Israel’s actions.
International criticism grows, but Israel’s genocide continues.