Gaza City combat zone declared

Israel expands its offensive in Gaza City, declaring it a dangerous combat zone as the death toll climbs past 63,000 and hostages remain in focus.

Gaza City Declared Combat Zone

Israel declared Gaza City a dangerous combat zone and announced the initial phases of a planned offensive, while the army recovered the remains of two hostages. The Gaza Health Ministry reported the death toll at 63,025, with 59 new deaths in the last 24 hours. Aid groups and a church sheltering people in the city said they would stay to assist the displaced amid continuing strikes on the outskirts. International condemnation followed, but residents described little change on the ground as fighting intensified and aid deliveries remained scarce. The UN warned that Gaza could lose half of its hospital bed capacity if the assault expands, highlighting a looming health and humanitarian crisis. As Israel suspended and then resumed pauses meant to ease aid, thousands poured south in search of safety, while many found no safe refuge.

The move marks a shift from selective strikes to a broader assault aimed at crippling Hamas in the city. Civilians face a stark choice between staying in place or risking perilous evacuation routes, underscoring the limits of humanitarian pauses in a densely populated urban battlefield. The scale of the toll already prompts questions about whether military aims can justify a humanitarian catastrophe, even as aid groups warn that deliveries remain unreliable. The situation tests international norms on civilian protection and raises questions about the long-term consequences for Gaza’s health system and regional stability.

Highlights

The coming days will test whether diplomacy or force will shape the fate of Gaza City.