The Israeli air force hit a commercial building in Gaza City today turning it into a pile of rubble. Today’s strike, one of several on high-rise residential and commercial buildings in the last few days, followed a blood-curdling warning from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. “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,” Katz wrote in a post on X, reported the Times of Israel. “The IDF is continuing with its plans—and we are preparing to expand the maneuver to defeat Gaza.”
The IDF has claimed, without presenting any evidence, that the high rises are part of the Hamas “terrorist infrastructure,” and are therefore legitimate targets. Times of Israel notes that the strikes come as Israel continues to set the stage for a major offensive to take over Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip. Beyond their operational justification, the strikes have also been interpreted as part of an effort to motivate civilians to leave the city in advance of the takeover operation.
