Israeli forces declared Gaza City a combat zone and initiated preliminary offensive operations, operating with heavy force on the city's outskirts. The military suspended tactical-local ceasefires in Gaza City from 10:00am, halting daily pauses that had permitted limited humanitarian aid access. Sustained bombardment on Gaza City has been ongoing since early August as preparations continue for a larger assault that could forcibly displace up to a million Palestinians to southern concentration zones. The bombardment has pushed residents westward. Gaza's Civil Defence reports over 1,000 residential buildings flattened in Zeitoun and Sabra since August 6, and residents report helicopter attacks and scorched neighborhoods.
We are not waiting. We have begun preliminary operations and the initial stages of the attack on Gaza City, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee wrote in a post on X on Friday. We are currently operating with great force on the outskirts of the city, he said.
Starting today at 10:00am (07:00 GMT), the tactical-local ceasefire of military activity will not apply to the Gaza City area, which constitutes a dangerous combat zone, the military said on X. Israeli forces have launched a sustained bombardment on Gaza City since early August, as the military prepares for a larger assault to seize Gaza's largest urban centre in an operation that could forcibly displace a million Palestinians to concentration zones in southern Gaza.
Gaza's Civil Defence estimates that more than 1,000 residential buildings in the Zeitoun and Sabra neighbourhoods of Gaza City have been flattened since August 6. Residents described relentless bombardment and attacks from helicopters. They launched a firebelt attack only 150 metres (500ft) away from us. They scorched the entire area, said Nihad Madoukh from Sheikh Radwan in northwestern Gaza City,
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