The Israeli military carried out heavy strikes on Gaza City on Sunday, targeting multiple high-rise buildings after warning residents to evacuate several neighborhoods.
This marked one of the most destructive days since Israel ordered the complete evacuation of the city earlier this week.
Within hours, evacuation notices were sent out for several towers, and airstrikes followed shortly after. Among the buildings destroyed was Al Kawthar Tower, an 11-story building near Gaza’s port. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said Hamas had used the tower to observe Israeli troop movements. The IDF claimed it used “precise munitions,” aerial surveillance, and advance warnings to minimize civilian casualties.
Mohna Tower Strike
Another strike hit al Mohna Tower in Gaza’s Tel al-Hawa neighborhood. The building was damaged but not demolished, as per CNN report. The Islamic University in Gaza was also struck and completely destroyed, with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz sharing a video of the attack, saying the university was a “source of incitement and terrorism.”
The attacks came just before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a high-level meeting with Israel’s defense and foreign ministers, as well as security chiefs. The focus was on how to carry out a planned ground operation in Gaza City while avoiding harm to the remaining hostages. Around 20 hostages are believed to still be alive inside Gaza, some possibly held in the city.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel on Sunday. He visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem with Netanyahu and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, and is scheduled to officially meet Netanyahu on Monday. Israeli leaders are expected to discuss not only the Gaza conflict but also possible annexation plans in the West Bank.
Background Of Israel-Gaza Conflict
On the humanitarian side, the situation continues to worsen. At least 74 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes on Saturday, with more than 50 of those deaths in Gaza City. Videos showed large fires breaking out at Al Shati camp, where people had been sheltering.
Over the past week, more than 50,000 Palestinians have been left homeless and over 130 residential buildings destroyed, according to Gaza Civil Defence.
Since the war began after Hamas’ attack in October 2023, Gaza’s Health Ministry says 64,871 people have been killed and 164,610 injured. The destruction of Gaza City has been particularly severe, with at least a dozen high-rises destroyed since early September.