Israel Intensifies Gaza Strikes Ahead of Potential Ground Offensive
Tensions continue to escalate in Gaza as the Israeli military intensifies its bombardment of Gaza City overnight, targeting key neighborhoods in what appears to be preparation for a major offensive. The latest surge in military activity comes ahead of a crucial meeting Thursday between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top ministers to discuss a controversial plan to seize the enclave’s largest city.
The military’s call-up of 60,000 reservists earlier this week signals a determination to push forward with the plan, despite mounting international pressure and renewed calls for a ceasefire. Israeli officials have clarified that most of the reservists won’t see combat, and emphasized that final decisions on a full ground assault have not yet been made.
The military buildup coincides with a fragile moment in ceasefire negotiations. A new proposal accepted by Hamas but still awaiting an official Israeli response calls for a 60-day truce, the release of 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 bodies in exchange for approximately 200 long-serving Palestinian prisoners. However, Israel continues to insist that all 50 remaining hostages must be freed as a precondition.
Inside Gaza, civilians are bracing for the worst. Heavy shelling has rocked the Sabra and Tuffah neighborhoods, forcing thousands of families to flee. Many are seeking shelter along the coast or relocating to central and southern parts of the strip.
“We are facing a bitter, bitter situation,” said Rabah Abu Elias, 67, a father of seven, speaking to Reuters by phone. “To die at home or leave and die somewhere else—as long as this war continues, survival is uncertain. In the news, they speak of a possible truce. On the ground, we hear only explosions.”
Israeli tanks have been slowly advancing toward Gaza City for the past ten days. Officials say evacuation notices will be issued before a large-scale incursion, but many in the city fear they’ll be caught in the crossfire.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s health ministry reported two additional deaths from starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 271—including 112 children—since the war began. Israel disputes these figures, questioning the accuracy of health data emerging from the Hamas-run territory.
