Palestinians are fleeing districts of Gaza City after the Israeli military announced the initial stages of its planned ground assault, city officials reported.
Israeli troops have secured positions on the outskirts of the city — home to more than one million people — following days of heavy air and artillery strikes.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further “death and destruction” that such an operation would cause.
Hundreds of residents from Gaza City’s Zeitoun and Sabra neighbourhoods were seen moving northwest.
The Israeli military said its forces were already active in Zeitoun and Jabalia, laying the groundwork for the larger offensive approved by Defence Minister Israel Katz.
Around 60,000 reservists are set to be mobilised in early September to support the campaign.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to speed up efforts to capture what he described as “the last terror strongholds” in Gaza. Hamas condemned the plan, accusing Israel of waging a “brutal war against innocent civilians” and ignoring a new ceasefire proposal from mediators.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned that Israel’s plans “can only lead to disaster for both peoples,” while the International Committee of the Red Cross said further displacement and intensified hostilities would deepen the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Israeli officials said troops uncovered an underground weapons tunnel in Zeitoun, and operations were under way to weaken Hamas’s infrastructure. The military promised to issue evacuation warnings to minimise civilian casualties.
Gaza’s Civil Defence agency reported 25 people killed on Wednesday, including three children and their parents in Shati refugee camp. Officials also voiced concern for the 50 hostages still believed to be in Gaza, about 20 of whom are thought to be alive. Families fear the offensive could endanger them.
Mediators Qatar and Egypt have proposed a 60-day truce with the release of half the hostages, a plan Hamas has accepted. Israel has not formally responded but has said it seeks a comprehensive deal covering all hostages.
The war began after Hamas’s 7 October 2023 assault on southern Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken hostage. Gaza’s health ministry says more than 62,000 people have been killed since, figures widely cited by the UN.
Source: BBC
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