Destruction of Gaza City High-Rises Marks Escalating Conflict

Sun Oct 19 2025 23:28:49 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As Israeli military operations intensify, the Sussi Tower becomes the second high-rise in Gaza City to be destroyed in two days, raising concerns about civilian safety and humanitarian access.

In a significant escalation of military operations, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have destroyed two high-rise buildings in Gaza City within 48 hours, prompting urgent evacuations and raising fears over civilian casualties. The IDF claims the Sussi Tower was used by Hamas, whereas Hamas refutes this. Amidst calls for residents to move to designated humanitarian zones, the UN warns of dire conditions in southern Gaza amidst ongoing airstrikes and military actions.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have urged Palestinians to evacuate Gaza City, relocating to what it calls a humanitarian zone in the south as it continues its military offensive in the territory.

On Saturday, for a second day running, the Israeli military destroyed a high-rise block, the Sussi Tower, in the enclave's largest urban area. Defence Minister Israel Katz posted video of the building collapsing on social media, captioned We're continuing. It was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties.

Israel stated that the tower was being used by Hamas, claiming measures were taken to mitigate civilian harm. Hamas, however, denies the accusations. This destruction comes as Israel expands its military operations in the territory.

Ahead of the attack on Sussi Tower, the Israeli air force had dropped leaflets ordering residents to leave. In a social media post, IDF's Arabic-language spokesman urged them to join the thousands of people who have already gone to al-Mawasi - an area between Khan Younis and the coastline in the south of the Gaza Strip.

The IDF has repeatedly encouraged civilians to evacuate to this area, promising medical care, water, and food; however, the UN reports that the tent camps are overcrowded and unsafe, and that southern hospitals are overwhelmed.

The Sussi Tower is the second high-rise to be destroyed in recent days, following the destruction of the Mushtaha Tower on Friday. Witnesses claim that displaced families had been sheltering in these buildings, raising concerns about a policy of forced displacement by Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced intentions to seize control of the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises. According to the UN, nearly one million people remain in Gaza City, where there is a declared famine, and a potential disaster is looming if military operations continue.

The conflict intensified significantly after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023, resulting in numerous deaths and a harsh military response from Israel. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate as civil unrest and military actions unfold in the region.