Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz posted on X that “Gaza is burning”. Overnight heavy strikes on Gaza City, including air raids, caused severe destruction with reports of killed and injured. A full evacuation order for Gaza City has been issued by the Israeli military. Humanitarian organisations condemned the full displacement orders as inhumane.
Israel has initiated a full-scale ground operation in Gaza City, which it has long indicated was a strategic objective. The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) has entered the urban centre to dismantle Hamas’s infrastructure, including command centres, tunnels, and weapon caches, according to reports.
Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz posted on X that “Gaza is burning.” He described that “IDF strikes with an iron fist at the terrorist infrastructure” and that the soldiers are fighting bravely to create conditions for the release of the innocent hostages and the defeat of Hamas.
Residents of Gaza City have been ordered to evacuate, moving to areas of the south, such as Al-Mawasi, a zone designated as a “humanitarian zone” by the Israeli authorities. Hundreds of thousands of people are in or facing displacement. Some reports say approximately 320,000 have already left Gaza City, while 650,000 remain in increasingly dangerous conditions.
Before the ground excavation, there were intensified airstrikes, naval shelling, and shellfire from tanks. Homes in the southern, central, and coastal parts of Gaza City have reportedly been hit. Residents report “heavy, relentless” bombardment. Hospital sources have reported many casualties, including deaths, and many more wounded.
Reports from health officials in Gaza said dozens were killed in the early hours of the ground offensive. Israel, on the other side, frames this escalation as a necessary step to weaken Hamas. Free the remaining hostages and restore security. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated that the war will not end until Hamas is disarmed and all hostages are released.
Humanitarian groups warn of risks of forced displacement and that southern areas may be disturbed, with displaced people lacking access to shelter, food, and clean water. The entire world, including the U.S., is expressing urgency for any diplomatic window for a ceasefire or negotiations.
Al Mawasi and other designated humanitarian zones are filling up. Infrastructure in these zones is under severe pressure. Palestinians are reportedly unable to evacuate due to a lack of vehicles, fear of travel, or blocked roads. Peaceful transit to shelters is uncertain.
