39 Killed in Gaza as Israel Expands Military Offensive

At least 39 Palestinians were killed on Saturday as Israeli forces intensified their operations in Gaza, according to the enclave’s civil defence agency. The escalation comes as the Israeli military signaled preparations for a large-scale push into Gaza City, raising fears of a new wave of displacement.

The announcement follows a recent decision by Israel’s security cabinet to press ahead with plans to seize control of Gaza’s largest city after nearly two years of relentless war that has devastated living conditions in the territory.

Preparations for Civilians to Flee

Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the defence body overseeing Palestinian affairs, said it would begin supplying tents and shelter materials from Sunday to facilitate the evacuation of civilians from conflict zones.

“This is part of efforts to relocate residents to the southern Gaza Strip for their safety,” COGAT said.

Hamas condemned the move, describing it as “a brutal scheme to forcibly occupy Gaza City.”

Dire Conditions in Gaza City

Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for Gaza’s civil defence, warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza City’s Zeitun district was deteriorating rapidly. He estimated that around 50,000 residents were trapped in the area with little or no access to food, clean water, or essential supplies amid unrelenting airstrikes and shelling.

Residents have reported intensified bombardments in recent days, with entire neighborhoods—including Zeitun—coming under heavy Israeli attack. Hamas accused Israel of waging “continuous assaults” using warplanes, artillery, and drones.

International Alarm

The Israeli military insists it is acting in line with international law and disputes the accuracy of casualty figures provided by Palestinian officials. Still, aid organizations and UN-backed experts warn of a looming famine as humanitarian access remains tightly restricted.

According to local authorities, 13 of those killed on Saturday were gunned down while waiting for food aid at distribution sites.

The conflict erupted in October 2023 after a Hamas-led assault on Israel that killed 1,219 people, according to official figures. Since then, more than 61,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Israeli operations, according to Gaza’s health ministry, figures the United Nations cites as credible.