Israeli forces intensify Gaza operations as tanks push into multiple neighborhoods of Gaza City, unleashing heavy shelling, explosions, and gunfire over the past 24 hours, according to CNN reporters on the ground.
Geolocated footage from Tuesday confirmed Israeli tanks entering the western part of the city, including the Beach Camp area, while additional videos showed tanks advancing south of the Islamic University on Monday. These movements highlight the deepest Israeli push into Gaza City since the ground assault began on Sunday.
Earlier this month, the Israeli military had ordered civilians and displaced residents to evacuate. At that time, nearly one million people were believed to be inside Gaza City. The IDF told CNN on Tuesday that around 640,000 have since left, though the figure cannot be independently verified.
Israeli Forces Intensify Gaza Offensive With Tanks, Shelling, and Explosions
As Israeli forces intensify Gaza operations, their units are using remote-controlled explosives in armored vehicles to demolish buildings. The IDF says Hamas has turned such sites into ambush points, command hubs, weapons storage, tunnel entrances, and observation posts.
The advance has come at a cost. The IDF confirmed that Maj. Shahar Netanel Bozaglo, 27, was killed when a Hamas fighter fired an RPG at one of his unit’s tanks.
Local residents report the skies filled with Israeli drones and attack helicopters. “Every explosion feels like an earthquake,” wrote Asem Alnabih, a Gaza Municipality spokesperson, describing the devastation shaking the city.
Despite the evacuation orders, hundreds of thousands remain trapped in Gaza City due to poverty, fear, or the inability to find safe refuge in the south. Abu Wissam, who lost his home and his son, told CNN: “If I had money to evacuate, I would leave. But now there are gangs in the south charging people to sleep in the streets.”
The escalating offensive, involving three armored divisions, has sparked international criticism. Families of hostages inside Gaza fear the assault endangers their loved ones. Governments in Europe, as well as Canada and Australia, have condemned the operation, warning it worsens the humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.
As Israeli forces intensify Gaza battles, the situation remains dire, with ongoing bombardments, rising civilian casualties, and deepening humanitarian concerns.
