Smoke rises from an Israeli army bombardment in Gaza City, as seen from central Gaza Strip. (AP Photo) Israeli tanks and troops reportedly pushed deeper into major residential districts of Gaza City on Wednesday as more Palestinians fled the city with strikes cutting down phone and internet services, making it tough for the locals to call ambulances on the second day of Israel’s ground offensive to occupy the city.
A BBC report stated that video footage showed bulldozers, tanks and armoured personnel carriers moving on the edges of Sheikh Radwan, in northern Gaza City. Since the Israeli military fired smoke bombs and artillery shells, thick smoke could be seen surrounding the region. The military is advancing under the cover of smoke.
Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan district was home to tens of thousands of people before the war began in October 2023 and has been one of the city’s most densely populated areas.
Israel has said their aim of the Gaza City offensive is to secure the hostages held by Hamas militant group and defeat about 3,000 Hamas fighters as Tel Aviv claims that it is the “last stronghold” held by the militant group. However, the operation has drawn widespread condemnation from across the globe.
Ahead of the planned ground incursion, the Israeli military informed that air force and artillery units have struck the city more than 150 times in the past few days. These strikes destroyed high-rise buildings in the region with densely populated tent camps. The Israeli forces have claimed that these high-rise towers were being used by Hamas to keep a watch on their troops.
A BBC report stated that leaders of more than 20 aid agencies, including Save the Children and Oxfam have issued warning that “the inhumanity of the situation in Gaza is unconscionable”.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Hamas war has crossed 65,000, local health officials have said, AP reported. Overnight strikes on Tuesday killed 16 people, including women and children, hospital officials said.
(with inputs from BBC, AP)
