Israel is systematically demolishing Gaza City, with the aim of making life impossible there for the estimated 1 million who remain. This morning, Gaza civil defense reported in a statement that in just the previous 72 hours, Israel had knocked down five high rise buildings more than seven stories tall in Gaza City, depriving an estimated 4,100 people of shelter. In the same period, more than 350 tents were destroyed, leaving another estimated 3,500 people without shelter. “So, an estimated 7,600 people are now living in the open, deprived of the most basic necessities of life, struggling against death, hunger, and heat in an unbearable catastrophic scene.”
“The world watches in silence, while Gaza City screams for rescue before it’s too late,” the statement concludes. “Urgent appeal to all humanitarian organizations and the world: Intervene immediately to save the lives of thousands of innocents!”
Israeli authorities have ordered the mass expulsion of civilians from Gaza City. On Tuesday, Sept. 9, residents were ordered to move south to the al-Mawasi area in Khan Younis, a narrow coastal strip that represents just 3% of Gaza and is already severely overcrowded with hundreds of thousands of displaced people, reported Middle East Eye. The Israeli military described al-Mawasi as a “humanitarian zone,” despite repeatedly bombing the area, even as recently as Monday.
“This is the last warning to the murderers and rapists of Hamas in Gaza, and in luxury hotels abroad: Release the hostages, and put down your weapons—or Gaza will be destroyed and you will be obliterated,” Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote in a post on X. “The IDF is continuing with its plans—and we are preparing to expand the maneuver to defeat Gaza.”
