Residents of Gaza City fled as Israeli tanks advanced deeper into the city on Tuesday, marking the second day of an escalated military offensive.
Efforts by Qatari, Egyptian, and U.S. mediators are underway to accelerate ceasefire talks aimed at ending the Gaza conflict and securing the release of hostages held by Israel in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Um Tamer, a mother of seven, described the situation, stating, “Gaza City is being devastated. This is what is happening. Israel is compelling us to evacuate homes under fire.”
“We can’t take it anymore, enough of death and humiliation. End the war now,” she added.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that all its medical clinics in Gaza City had been shut down due to evacuation orders.
In the meantime, senior U.S. officials were in the region advocating for a ceasefire following recent concessions by Hamas.
However, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh cautioned that the renewed Israeli offensive could jeopardize the ongoing negotiation process.
Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad’s armed factions asserted they engaged Israeli forces in Tel Al-Hawa using anti-tank rockets and mortars, resulting in casualties.
The Israeli military indicated that its operations in Gaza City were conducted based on intelligence suggesting the presence of Hamas and Islamic Jihad members. They reported neutralizing several fighters and uncovering a significant number of weapons.
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Credit – Reuters