Israeli Bombardment Intensifies in Gaza City Amid New Offensive

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli airstrikes pounded Gaza City on Tuesday, escalating a new ground assault aimed at rooting out Hamas militants regrouping in previously cleared areas of the territory. The ongoing offensive has prompted mass evacuations and forced medical facilities to shut down, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza.

The latest Israeli military operation marks a significant escalation in the nine-month conflict, leaving much of Gaza City and its surrounding urban areas devastated after repeated bombardments. Despite earlier population displacements, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain in the north, enduring relentless airstrikes and ground incursions.

Hakeem Abdel-Bar, a resident who fled Gaza City’s Tuffah district, described the intensity of the ongoing attacks, noting widespread airstrikes by Israeli warplanes and drones targeting populated areas, while tanks moved into central districts.

Emergency response efforts have been severely hampered, with families desperate for assistance unable to access medical aid due to the volatile security situation. Nebal Farsakh from the Palestinian Red Crescent reported the closure of all three medical points in Gaza City, citing safety concerns amid the military operations.

The Israeli military, however, stated that hospitals and medical facilities had been advised against evacuation, despite past instances where such facilities have been targeted or forced to relocate preemptively.

According to the United Nations, only 13 out of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are operational, underscoring the dire healthcare situation exacerbated by continuous hostilities.

The conflict, triggered by Hamas’ October 7 attack, has inflicted heavy casualties and displacement on Gaza’s population. The Health Ministry in Gaza reported that over 5% of the territory’s 2.3 million residents have been killed or wounded since the conflict began. The majority have been forced into overcrowded tent camps, enduring multiple displacements amid the ongoing violence.

Maha Mahfouz, a displaced mother, recounted fleeing her home multiple times within 24 hours, seeking refuge in different parts of the city and ultimately settling in a refugee camp-turned-urban district, Shati. She described the widespread destruction she witnessed in eastern and central Gaza City, where buildings and infrastructure lie in ruins.

Recent Israeli airstrikes in Deir al-Balah and neighboring refugee camps claimed the lives of at least 14 people, including women and children, as hospitals struggled to cope with the influx of casualties.

Despite international efforts to broker a cease-fire, mediated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, challenges persist in reaching a sustainable agreement. Hamas, which recently softened its demand for an immediate cessation of hostilities, now seeks assurances from mediators for a permanent cease-fire to conclude negotiations.

CIA Director William Burns’ meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi underscores ongoing diplomatic efforts to facilitate peace talks, although both sides remain cautious amid renewed hostilities.

The humanitarian toll continues to mount, with casualties rising and infrastructure devastated, further complicating prospects for a lasting resolution to the conflict in Gaza.