Local residents and eyewitnesses report that dozens of Israeli tanks and military vehicles have pushed into the major residential district of Sheikh Radwan, as part of Israel's second day of ground operations in Gaza City.
Video footage captured shows tanks, bulldozers, and armoured personnel carriers moving at the edges of this northern Gaza district. Thick clouds of smoke fill the air as Israeli forces fire artillery shells and smoke bombs to facilitate their advance.
Sheikh Radwan was home to tens of thousands prior to the outbreak of conflict and is known as one of Gaza City's most densely populated regions.
Israeli officials state that the primary objective of this offensive is to liberate hostages taken by Hamas and to incapacitate up to 3,000 militants, describing this area as the group's last stronghold. However, this military action has drawn widespread condemnation from around the globe.
In response to the ongoing crisis, leaders from over 20 prominent aid agencies—including Save the Children and Oxfam—have condemned the situation in Gaza, calling it unconscionable.
Residents in Sheikh Radwan indicated that the incursion followed extensive airstrikes that targeted various buildings and main streets, likely as a preparatory measure for the ground offensive.
Local resident Saad Hamada, who evacuated to the south with his family, described: The drones didn't leave anything. They hit everything—solar panels, power generators, water tanks, even the internet network. Life became impossible, forcing most of us to flee despite the dangers ahead.
The incursion has ignited yet another wave of displacement, with numerous families fleeing southwards. Long lines of vehicles carrying their possessions were observed on the roads as people sought refuge away from the conflict.
Sheikh Radwan, which was already heavily damaged from previous military actions, is now facing even greater devastation. The presence of tanks has evoked past memories for residents, who recall previous military incursions that resulted in significant destruction.
U.N. agencies and humanitarian groups warn that the situation is becoming catastrophic, with a limited safe area available for the displaced population, many of whom have nowhere to turn.
As Israel continues military operations in response to the October 7 Hamas-led attack which resulted in significant fatalities in Israel, Gaza's health ministry reports soaring death tolls from Israeli airstrikes, intensifying the humanitarian crisis.
