Gaza City invasion expands into al-Zaytoun

An editorial analysis of reports that the Israeli army is advancing into Gaza City with heavy bombardment of al-Zaytoun, threatening the Old City and its residents.

Israel has started the invasion of Gaza City, and is now annihilating one of its most historic neighborhoods

Israeli ground forces moved into the eastern Gaza City on August 10, entering the al-Zaytoun neighborhood as heavy shelling followed. Residents received phone calls ordering them to move south, and the bombardment intensified in the area near the Netzarim corridor. Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said that about 450 buildings in al-Zaytoun were destroyed in the nine-day period.

Video and eyewitness accounts describe tanks advancing 150 meters into al-Zaytoun toward the Sabra clinic before withdrawing at dawn, while artillery fire continues to demolish homes. Basal notes that roughly 80 percent of the neighborhood's residents have evacuated and warns that if fighting persists, the entire area could be erased. He adds that 75 percent of Gaza City's infrastructure has already been destroyed, leaving services in collapse and forcing people to seek shelter in overcrowded camps or scarce coastal Mawasi areas. The Old City, a cultural landmark, now faces a similar threat.

The clash between military action and civilian survival is laid bare in al-Zaytoun. Urban warfare here signals a broader risk to Gaza’s cultural memory and daily life, as neighborhoods once full of history face irreversible damage. The scale of destruction raises questions about civilian protection and the rules of war in dense cities. International observers will watch for accountability, access to aid, and the long-term impact on millions of residents who depend on a functioning city for basic needs.

This situation also highlights how information travels in conflict. Eyewitness reports, veteran officials, and NGO sources often provide partial pictures, making independent verification crucial. The humanitarian stakes are high: displacement, collapsing services, and the potential loss of heritage that takes generations to document and cherish.

Highlights

The human cost of urban warfare will outlive the headlines.