Israeli Forces pushes into Gaza City outskirts ahead of offensive

Israeli officials vowed to press ahead with the offensive on Gaza City, as residents reported heavy air and ground attacks. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is acting and will continue to act with full force to defeat Hamas, to secure the release of all the hostages and to bring the war to an end under the conditions set by Israel.Israeli planes and tanks pounded the eastern and northern outskirts of Gaza City overnight Saturday. The IDF said Sunday that troops of the 401st Armored Brigade returned to Jabalia in recent days, joining the Givati Infantry Brigade, which has been operating the area — just north of Gaza City — for the past week.

The military said the forces are working to dismantle Hamas capabilities in the area, including by destroying tunnels, “eliminating terrorists, and strengthening operational control over the area.” Around half of the enclave’s two million people currently live in Gaza City. A few thousand have already left, carrying their belongings on vehicles and rickshaws. Others said they will not leave, no matter what.

According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 2,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 13,500 wounded while seeking aid at distribution points or along aid convoys. The ministry added that malnutrition-related deaths rose by eight to 289 on Sunday. The IDF has acknowledged firing warning shots at crowds that get too close to its soldiers at aid distribution sites in Gaza, but has called the death tallies exaggerated, though it hasn’t provided alternate numbers. Israel has said it seeks to minimize civilian fatalities and stresses that Hamas uses Gaza’s civilians as human shields, fighting from civilian areas including homes, hospitals, schools, and mosques.