Tel Aviv: Israel’s military reported that its air force struck around 50 targets in Gaza overnight, mostly in Gaza City, bringing the total to 140 targets in the past 24 hours. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strikes hit tunnels, buildings used by militant groups, operatives’ cells, and other infrastructure, offering limited details about the intensified push in Gaza’s largest urban area that began yesterday.
“The forces are eliminating terrorists and destroying military structures used by terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip,” the IDF stated.
Gaza City remains Hamas’ final stronghold.
On Monday, the military targeted a weapons production workshop linked to Hamas in the city. “At the time of the attack, terrorists at the production site were manufacturing explosives intended to harm IDF forces,” a spokesperson said. Secondary explosions were observed, indicating the presence of weapons in the compound. Over the past two days, the Air Force and Artillery Corps have struck more than 150 targets in Gaza City to support ground operations.
As the offensive continues, roughly 400,000 Palestinians have evacuated Gaza City, according to the IDF. The city’s population was estimated at about 1 million before the current operations. The military ordered residents to move immediately to a designated humanitarian zone in southern Gaza. Tens of thousands have evacuated daily, though the IDF notes its figures are generally higher than United Nations estimates.
To ease congestion, the army announced a second evacuation route, opening the Salah al-Din highway, Gaza’s main north-south artery, from noon until noon on Friday. This route was previously used during earlier evacuations.
The IDF also accused Hamas of spreading disinformation to impede evacuation efforts. “We have repeatedly called on Gaza residents to move to the humanitarian zone in Mawasi for their safety. Citizens should not be swayed by rumors and disinformation,” the military said, claiming that Hamas is using civilians as human shields and “in a hysterical state, using lies as a weapon.”
Ground operations are continuing, with IDF forces focusing on eliminating militants and dismantling military infrastructure. The military emphasized that the offensive aims to weaken Hamas while urging civilians to follow evacuation orders for their safety.
The October 7 Hamas attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border killed approximately 1,200 people and left 252 Israelis and foreign nationals taken hostage. Of the 48 remaining hostages, around 20 are believed to be alive.
