The Israeli military destroyed a second Gaza high-rise in two days, issuing a swift evacuation order before reducing the 15-story Sousi Tower to rubble. This escalation occurs amid a threatened ground offensive on Gaza City and growing international pressure.
Evacuation Orders and Building Destruction
According to residents, the Israeli army gave them approximately 20 minutes to evacuate the Gaza high-rise before warplanes attacked. Subsequently, footage of the collapse was posted online by Israel’s Defense Minister.
Furthermore, the military issued a new evacuation order for a third tower, Al-Roya, on Sunday. An Israeli spokesperson claimed these buildings housed Hamas infrastructure but provided no immediate evidence. Conversely, Hamas officials dismissed the allegations as “baseless lies.”
Civilian Impact and Mounting Casualties
Meanwhile, overnight strikes into Sunday killed 14 people, local health officials reported. One strike hit a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza City.
Additionally, a Gaza civil defence spokesperson stated that 56 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire on Saturday. This figure includes 19 people near a northern aid distribution center.
Resident Dilemma: To Flee or Stay?
Consequently, the destruction fuels a critical dilemma for civilians. Tens of thousands have already fled Gaza City following Israeli displacement orders. However, many residents distrust the designated “humanitarian zone” in al-Mawasi, citing previous strikes in such areas.
“Some say we should evacuate, others say we should stay,” said one resident, Abdel Nasser Mushtaha. “But everywhere in Gaza there are bombings and deaths.”
International Pressure and Ceasefire Stalemate
Internationally, Israel faces mounting pressure to end the conflict. Thousands protested in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem over the weekend, demanding a ceasefire and hostage deal.
Hamas official Bassem Naim told Reuters the group would release all remaining hostages if Israel ended the war and withdrew from Gaza. However, Israel insists on a total end to the war, demanding Hamas disarms and steps down from power. For more context on the conflict’s origins, you can read this timeline from the BBC.
The Israeli military continues to issue evacuation warnings for specific areas of Gaza City, though no timeline for a full-scale ground assault has been announced.
To read more about this, you can visit Theguardian.com.
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