WATCH: IDF Destroys Extensive Hamas Tunnels, Continues Strikes on Gaza City High-Rises
The IDF's expanded operation in Gaza City is seeing massive explosions as troops destroy hundreds of meters of tunnels and collapse multi-story buildings, while officials continue to urge the population to evacuate to safety.
The IDF's ground operation in Gaza City is intensifying as troops expand their presence and target key Hamas infrastructure. The Nahal Brigade combat team, operating under the command of Division 99 in the Zeitoun neighborhood, has destroyed a tunnel network spanning hundreds of meters. The underground route connected the western and eastern parts of the city and contained a command center used by Hamas's Zeitoun Battalion. The brigade's fire team also eliminated terrorists hiding in a building with a tunnel shaft leading to the underground route.
In addition to the ground operations, the IDF has begun striking high-rise buildings in the city center. Following the collapse of the "Mustaha" tower in western Gaza City after a missile strike, Defense Minister Israel Katz posted a video of the destruction on social media with the caption "We've started," signaling Israel's intent to continue the campaign. According to IDF sources, the Southern Command and the Air Force plan to strike more towers in the coming days, with Katz reportedly pushing for the collapse of additional buildings that pose a risk to soldiers during the operation.
The IDF is also continuing to issue evacuation warnings. The IDF's Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, published an evacuation notice for the Al-Ruaya building, urging residents to move south to the humanitarian zone in Al-Mawasi, Khan Yunis, before an impending strike. The building was later hit, with footage showing a massive plume of smoke rising from the area. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that around 100,000 people have already left the city, though the IDF estimates that approximately 900,000 residents still remain.
The renewed intensity of the war in Gaza was underscored by a rocket attack from Khan Yunis, which triggered air raid sirens in Netivot and the Sdot Negev Regional Council. One rocket was intercepted, and the other exploded in an open area. The Islamic Jihad took responsibility for the launches, marking the first time in three weeks that a rocket from Gaza successfully crossed into Israeli territory.
