ALBAWABA - On Saturday, the Israeli occupation forces stepped up their military campaign by destroying a lot of residential buildings in Gaza City and telling people to leave right away. Medical sources said that dozens of Palestinians had died and been hurt in the latest round of airstrikes.
Moamen Al-Sharafi, a reporter for Al Jazeera, said that Israeli warplanes destroyed the Al-Sousi Tower, a multi-story apartment building across from the UNRWA headquarters in Tel Al-Hawa, which is in southwest Gaza City. Dozens of families lived in the tower, but they have now lost their homes. Yisrael Katz, Israel's defense minister, said, "We will continue," in response to the attack.
The Israeli army said that Hamas was using the tower to gather information and watch troop movements, but Palestinian officials said that the building was only for civilians. Israeli airstrikes also destroyed three homes in the Al-Sabra neighborhood, which is south of Gaza City.
The Israeli army told people living in the Al-Ru'ya Tower and families living in tents nearby to leave right away before the tower was scheduled to be torn down.
On Friday, Israeli troops tore down the Mushtaha Tower in western Gaza City and did large-scale demolitions in northern Gaza, leaving whole neighborhoods in ruins. The Government Media Office in Gaza said that the Israeli claims were false excuses meant to force people to leave their homes.
Medical sources said that at least 21 Palestinians have died since dawn on Saturday, with 13 of them in Gaza City. Six people, including two children, died in an airstrike on a home in the Al-Shati refugee camp. Eight more people died when a house in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood was hit, and another child died and several civilians were hurt when Israeli shells hit the same area.
A strike on Al-Yarmouk Street in Gaza City also killed two Palestinians and hurt others. The Ministry of Health made an urgent call for blood donations, saying that Gaza's healthcare system would completely break down if the siege and bombardment continued.
As part of Operation "Chariots of Gideon 2," Israel has been systematically destroying homes in Gaza City and Jabalia for weeks. The goal is to invade and fully occupy Gaza City. International organizations and human rights groups have condemned the destruction, saying it will lead to mass forced displacement and a worsening humanitarian disaster for the million people who live in Gaza.
