At least 32 people, including 12 children, have been killed in a series of Israeli air strikes across Gaza City, according to local medical officials.
The attacks come as Israel escalates its offensive, urging Palestinians to evacuate what it calls the largest remaining Hamas stronghold. High-rise buildings have been destroyed, and authorities accuse Hamas of placing surveillance equipment inside them.
One of the strikes hit a house in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, killing a family of 10, including a mother and three children. Smoke and debris were seen rising from the damaged building, highlighting the intensity of the bombardment.
Hundreds of thousands of residents remain in Gaza City, many struggling under famine conditions. Aid workers say that while evacuation numbers have risen in recent weeks, many families cannot afford transport or housing. Others fear moving again after being displaced multiple times, citing safety concerns.
Israel’s army has instructed the remaining population to move south to a designated “humanitarian zone.” Army spokesman Avichay Adraee said over 250,000 people have left the city out of approximately one million residents in northern Gaza.
The United Nations reports that more than 100,000 people have left Gaza City between mid-August and mid-September. Aid organizations warn that displacing hundreds of thousands more could worsen an already severe humanitarian crisis. Southern areas of Gaza, where residents are being directed, are overcrowded, and relocation costs can exceed $1,000.
The UN is coordinating the delivery of temporary shelters, including tents and other supplies. More than 86,000 tents remain awaiting clearance to enter Gaza.
Friday night’s bombardment followed an Israeli strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar. The attacks have heightened tensions and threaten ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Gaza.
Families of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza have called for a halt to the offensive, fearing for the safety of the 48 hostages, of whom about 20 are believed to be alive.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants entered southern Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Israel’s subsequent retaliation has killed more than 64,700 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. About half of those killed are reported to be women and children, though the ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
The conflict has left large portions of Gaza’s major cities destroyed. Around 90% of the enclave’s two million residents have been displaced, compounding the region’s humanitarian emergency.
As Israel continues its air strikes, international organizations warn of a growing catastrophe in Gaza, urging both sides to consider civilian safety amid the ongoing violence.
