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Amidst its ongoing military offensive in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has urged Palestinian civilians to evacuate Gaza City and relocate to a designated “humanitarian zone” in the southern part of the territory.
On Saturday, the Israeli military demolished the Sussi Tower, a high-rise building in Gaza City, marking the second consecutive day of such actions in the enclave’s largest urban area.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz shared a video of the building’s collapse on X, accompanied by the caption “We’re continuing.” The immediate aftermath and potential casualties remain unclear.
Israeli authorities stated that Hamas was utilizing the tower for its operations, while asserting that measures were taken to minimize harm to civilians. Hamas has refuted these claims.
This development coincides with Israel’s expansion of its military operations within Gaza.
Prior to the destruction of the Sussi Tower, the Israeli Air Force disseminated leaflets instructing residents to evacuate the area.
IDF Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee urged residents via social media to “join the thousands of people who have already gone” to al-Mawasi, a coastal area located between Khan Younis and the Mediterranean Sea in the southern Gaza Strip.
The IDF has repeatedly encouraged civilians to relocate to al-Mawasi, assuring them of access to medical care, water, and food.
However, the United Nations has reported that tent encampments in al-Mawasi are overcrowded and unsafe, and that hospitals in the southern region are struggling to cope with the influx of patients.
Tragically, on Tuesday, five children lost their lives while waiting in line for water in al-Mawasi. Witnesses allege that an Israeli drone strike was responsible, an incident currently “under review” by the IDF.
The Sussi Tower demolition follows a similar incident on Friday, where the Mushtaha Tower in Gaza City’s al-Rimal neighborhood was destroyed by a massive explosion, as captured in social media footage.
The IDF has stated that precautionary measures were implemented, including advance warnings to the population and the use of “precise munitions.”
Conversely, Palestinian sources claim that displaced families were seeking shelter in the building, and Gaza civil defense agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal accused Israel of implementing “a policy of forced displacement.”
Satellite imagery reveals that several neighborhoods within Gaza City have been subjected to extensive damage from Israeli strikes and demolitions over the past month.
The now-destroyed residential and commercial towers in Gaza City held symbolic importance, representing aspirations for an end to the Israeli occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
The construction of multi-story buildings, exceeding five floors, gained momentum following the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, facilitating the return of tens of thousands of Palestinians from exile to Gaza and parts of the West Bank.
Following the Israeli withdrawal from most of Gaza in 1994, vertical expansion became essential to accommodate the growing population of returnees.
The Palestinian Authority encouraged significant investments in the construction sector, with entire neighborhoods named after these prominent towers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel’s intention to seize all of the Gaza Strip after indirect talks with Hamas on a ceasefire and hostage release deal broke down in July.
The UN estimates that nearly one million people remain in Gaza City, where it declared a famine last month. It has warned of an imminent “disaster” if the assault proceeds.
The Israeli military launched its campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of 251 individuals.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, at least 63,746 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then.
The ministry also reports that 367 people have died during the war as a result of malnutrition and starvation.
Additional reporting by Ruth Comerford
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