Israel has stepped up its military campaign in Gaza City, demolishing a second major high-rise building in just two days. On Saturday, the Sussi Tower was reduced to rubble following an Israeli airstrike. A day earlier, the Mushtaha Tower in Gaza’s al-Rimal neighborhood had also been destroyed.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz shared footage of the latest strike on social media, writing, “We’re continuing.” The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the Sussi Tower was being used by Hamas, though the group denies this claim. Casualty numbers from the latest strike are still unknown.
Civilians Told to Relocate
Ahead of the attack, Israel dropped leaflets urging residents to move to al-Mawasi, a southern coastal area it calls a “humanitarian zone.” The IDF says food, water, and medical care are available there. However, the UN has warned that al-Mawasi’s tent camps are overcrowded, unsafe, and that hospitals in the south are overwhelmed.
Tragedy struck earlier this week when five children were killed while waiting for water in al-Mawasi. Witnesses said an Israeli drone hit them; the IDF said the incident is under review.
Towers Symbolic of Gaza’s Past
Gaza’s high-rises are more than just buildings—they represent a period of hope after the 1993 Oslo Accords, when Palestinians returned from exile and began building modern residential and commercial spaces. Many of these towers became symbols of growth and the dream of independence.
Now, satellite images show entire neighborhoods flattened by recent strikes and demolitions.
Wider Conflict
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated Israel intends to seize control of the entire Gaza Strip after ceasefire talks with Hamas collapsed in July.
Since the war began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel—which killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage—the toll in Gaza has been devastating. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 63,700 people have been killed in Israeli attacks, with 367 deaths linked to starvation and malnutrition.
The UN says nearly one million people remain trapped in Gaza City, warning of an imminent humanitarian disaster if the offensive continues.
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