World Desk

Israeli forces struck a high-rise building in Gaza City on Friday following an evacuation warning, intensifying a military campaign aimed at taking control of the devastated city, home to roughly one million Palestinians. Separate airstrikes in the city reportedly killed at least 27 people, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli military claims that Hamas uses high-rise buildings for surveillance and ambush planning. Officials said they would continue with “precise, targeted strikes” in the coming days against militant infrastructure.

In preparation for an expanded offensive, Israel has called up tens of thousands of reservists and issued repeated evacuation orders. The renewed military push has sparked growing opposition inside Israel and criticism from the international community.

Friday’s airstrike reportedly hit the Mushtaha Tower in Rimal, once an upscale neighborhood. Local resident Ahmed al-Boari said the area had been sheltering displaced residents. Satellite imagery showed numerous makeshift tents surrounding the building. The number of casualties from the strike was not immediately known. Israel said the tower was targeted because it was being used by Hamas operatives. The building’s roof had already sustained damage from previous strikes.

Growing Fears as Gaza City Declared Combat Zone
Israel has officially designated Gaza City a combat zone, with certain areas labeled “red zones” where residents have been ordered to evacuate. Many civilians, including those who had previously returned after fleeing, are now living in fear.

Shifa Hospital in Gaza City reported 27 fatalities from overnight strikes, including six members of a single family. The Israeli military says it targets only militants and holds Hamas responsible for civilian casualties, accusing the group of operating in densely populated areas.

Inside Israel, the offensive has triggered protests by families of hostages still believed to be held in Gaza—48 in total, 20 of whom are presumed alive. Demonstrators accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prolonging the war to appease far-right political allies rather than seeking a ceasefire to secure the hostages’ release.

“The government is waging a war of attrition—not only against the hostages but also against the entire Israeli public,” said Lishay Lavi-Miran, whose husband Omri is among the captives.

Hamas Releases Video of Hostages
On Friday, Hamas released a video appearing to show two hostages in Gaza City: Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel. Gilboa-Dalal, who was last seen over six months ago in another hostage video, is seen pleading for an end to the war—believed to be speaking under duress.

The ongoing conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Most of the hostages have since been released under ceasefire deals or other negotiations.

In response, Israel launched a broad offensive that has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not specify how many were combatants, but says women and children account for around half the death toll.

Israel insists the war will continue until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are freed. It also plans to maintain indefinite security control over the Gaza Strip, home to more than two million Palestinians. Hamas has stated it will only release the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Settler Violence in West Bank Escalates
Elsewhere, in the occupied West Bank, Israeli settlers reportedly attacked the Palestinian village of Khallet A-Daba overnight. Witnesses said settlers used clubs and pepper spray against residents. Activist videos showed injured individuals, including a baby with head wounds.

Nine Palestinians were hospitalized, said local activist Basel Adra, who helped produce the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, which highlights settler violence. The Israeli military demolished much of the village last month and has not yet commented on the latest incident.

Criticism Over U.S. Sanctions on Palestinian NGOs
Human rights groups in Israel and Palestine issued a joint statement condemning new U.S. sanctions targeting Palestinian civil society organizations. They argue the measures will severely impact groups that have long worked to defend Palestinian rights.

The Biden administration on Thursday sanctioned three Palestinian NGOs—Al Haq, Al Mezan, and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights—accusing them of aiding International Criminal Court (ICC) investigations into alleged Israeli war crimes.

Last year, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing alleged crimes against humanity in Gaza. The U.S. and Israel reject the ICC’s jurisdiction and have sanctioned several of its officials.

Ammar Dwaik, head of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights, warned the move "criminalizes accountability" and sends a dangerous message globally. “It tells governments they can silence human rights defenders without consequence,” he said.