Israel Warns of ‘Unprecedented Force’ in Gaza City Amid Ground Offensive

The Israeli military has warned it will operate with “unprecedented force” in Gaza City, urging residents to evacuate as its ground offensive continues in the Palestinian territory’s largest urban centre.

Escalating Assault on Gaza City

• Gaza City has been subjected to relentless air strikes and tank fire as Israel seeks to seize control.
• Nearly two years into the conflict, the city is gripped by a UN-declared famine, with the civilian population facing severe shortages.
• The offensive coincides with efforts by several Western governments, including the UK and France, to recognise a Palestinian state at an upcoming UN summit.

The ground offensive began Tuesday, with repeated calls for civilians to flee south. However, many residents report prohibitive costs and uncertainty over safe destinations.

“For several days, we’ve been trying to evacuate to the south, but we haven’t been able to find any means of transport,” said Khaled al-Majdalawi, a displaced Palestinian in western Gaza City.
“We finally found a way to leave early this morning… but until now, no one has come, and the driver isn’t answering us.”

The United Nations estimated in late August that around one million people were living in Gaza City and surrounding areas. The Israeli military estimates 480,000 have fled since late August, while Gaza’s civil defence agency, operating under Hamas, reported 450,000 evacuations.

Evacuation Routes and Warnings

• On Friday, the military’s Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, announced the closure of a temporary evacuation route, advising that the only southern passage is now via Al-Rashid road along the Mediterranean coast.
• Adraee stated: “The [military] will continue to operate with unprecedented force against Hamas and other terrorist organisations. Take this opportunity and join the hundreds of thousands of city residents who have moved south to the humanitarian area.”

Israel has designated the Al-Mawasi coastal area as a “humanitarian zone” with aid, medical care, and basic infrastructure, though repeated strikes have also hit this region.

Humanitarian Strain

Residents report exhausting and perilous journeys south:

• Nivin Ahmed, 50, walked over 15 km to Deir el-Balah with seven family members.
• Mona Abdel Karim, 36, slept on Al-Rashid road for two nights with her family, unable to secure transport. She described her situation as: “I feel like I’m about to explode. We can’t walk on foot — my husband’s parents are elderly and sick, and the children are too weak to walk.”

Photographs from AFP show long queues of civilians walking or travelling with minimal belongings, leaving behind scenes of rubble and smoke.

Ongoing Shelling and Casualties

• Gaza’s civil defence agency reported artillery shelling, drone attacks, and intermittent gunfire in multiple neighbourhoods, including Tel al-Hawa.
• Israeli forces reportedly targeted militants using tanks, armed UAVs (drones), and air strikes to dismantle infrastructure and locate weapons.
• Casualty figures for Friday include at least 41 deaths across Gaza, 11 in Gaza City alone.

Media restrictions and restricted access make independent verification difficult.

Context and Wider Impact

• The offensive comes amid a UN probe accusing Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza, a claim Israel has rejected as “distorted and false.”
• The conflict originated with Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, which killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians.
• Israel’s retaliation has resulted in at least 65,174 deaths, largely civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry figures considered reliable by the UN.

Key Statistics

The situation in Gaza City remains dire, with residents facing the dual threats of ongoing military assault and humanitarian collapse. The international community continues to call for evacuation support and protection of civilians, though access remains limited.