ALBAWABA - Israel has stepped up its military action in Gaza, with Defense Minister Yisrael Katz saying that "the gates of hell are opening." The military is now carrying out a series of heavy airstrikes on residential towers in Gaza City.
After Katz's speech, Israeli fighter jets hit a number of multi-story buildings, which was the start of a phased military operation. Katz said on X (formerly Twitter) that he gave the first evacuation order for a high-rise in Gaza before attacking it. He said that Israel would step up its actions until Hamas agrees to its terms, which include the release of all hostages and the group's complete disarmament. He promised that "Hamas will be destroyed" if they don't.
Channel 12 says that the Israeli Air Force has started a planned campaign to destroy the high-rise buildings in Gaza. The Israeli military said in a statement that future strikes will hit more buildings that are said to have been turned into Hamas military infrastructure. This is the first step toward a larger ground offensive.
The army says that Hamas has set up intelligence units, sniper positions, rocket launchers, and command centers inside residential towers, using civilian areas as bases of operations. According to Al Jazeera, Israeli troops have already bombed the Mushtaha Tower in Gaza City.
Channel 14 said that the operation in Gaza City will start with big airstrikes and then move to the ground. Residents are expected to get evacuation notices soon, telling them to move to southern Gaza.
The situation got worse right after Hamas's Al-Qassam Brigades released a video showing Israeli hostage Guy Dalal in Gaza, saying he was scared for his life and blaming the Israeli government for not taking care of soldiers and captives. The video also shows Dalal meeting another Israeli hostage near the Red Cross headquarters in Gaza City. Both men look upset about what is happening to them.
Israel thinks that 48 hostages are still in Gaza, 20 of whom are thought to be alive. Israel also holds about 11,100 Palestinian prisoners, and there have been reports of torture, starvation, and medical neglect in the prisons.
