Israel has launched heavy air and artillery strikes on Gaza City after its defence ministry approved an expanded offensive against Hamas strongholds, residents and officials confirmed on Thursday.
The new military plan includes the mobilisation of around 60,000 reservists, sparking fears of an even deeper humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory.
“We have begun preliminary actions, and IDF troops are now positioned on the outskirts of Gaza City,” the Israeli military said in a statement. Residents described a night of relentless bombardment, with explosions rattling buildings across the city.
“The house shook all night — the sounds of blasts, warplanes, ambulances, and cries for help are killing us,” said Ahmad al-Shanti, a resident of northern Gaza.
Civil defence teams reported that the strikes hit areas northwest and southeast of Gaza City, destroying homes and forcing more people to flee.
The escalation comes as mediators from Qatar and Egypt, supported by the United States, wait for Israel’s response to a ceasefire proposal that Hamas has already agreed to. The deal reportedly includes the release of 10 hostages and 18 bodies, with further talks planned for a broader agreement covering the remaining captives.
Qatar described the proposal as “almost identical” to one Israel had previously accepted, while Egypt said “the ball is now in Israel’s court.”
Hamas condemned Israel’s expanded assault, calling it a “blatant disregard” for ongoing ceasefire efforts.
The conflict, which began with Hamas’s October 2023 attack that killed 1,219 people in Israel, has since claimed at least 62,122 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza health authorities. Due to restrictions on media access, however, casualty figures cannot be independently verified.
