GAZA CITY — Israel has intensified its attacks on Gaza City, with residents describing a “night from hell” as Israeli forces push deeper into the area as part of a stated plan to occupy it and forcibly displace about one million people.
Local sources and residents described last night as a “night from hell,” marked by relentless Israeli bombardment, including quadcopter fire, tank shelling, Apache helicopter strikes and fire, and the detonation of booby-trapped robots in the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, Sabra, Jabalia, and Jabalia al-Nazla.
Orange skies in Gaza. Same barbaric scenes on loop. Shame on the world. https://t.co/9fY9Eyg1DT
— Hamza Yusuf (@Hamza_a96) August 24, 2025
ليلة من الجحيم في غزة
— MO (@Abu_Salah9) August 23, 2025
لعن الله الاحتلال، حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل. pic.twitter.com/Dl33zreBpJ
Gaza City right now, 1 am, as Israel is mercilessly pummelling the city ahead of the invasion. pic.twitter.com/LCw87MoM6s
— Abubaker Abed (@AbubakerAbedW) August 23, 2025
In Gaza City, we’re being literally eliminated..
— Motasem A Dalloul (@AbujomaaGaza) August 23, 2025
Pray for us 🤲
Gaza City Occupy Plan
Last week, Hamas agreed to a proposal by Qatari and Egyptian mediators for a 60-day ceasefire, which according to Qatar would see the release of half of the remaining captives in Gaza.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has apparently rejected this, saying he had instructed negotiations to begin only for the release of all remaining captives and an end to the war in Gaza on terms “acceptable to Israel”.
Once the temporary ceasefire begins, the proposal is for Hamas and Israel to begin negotiations on a permanent ceasefire that would include the return of the remaining captives.
However, mediators have been waiting for days for an official Israeli response to their latest ceasefire proposal.
Israel’s security cabinet two weeks ago approved plans to seize Gaza City, despite international condemnation from the United Nations and states.
The plan reportedly involves forcing around one million residents southwards before surrounding the city and launching incursions into residential areas, followed by an expansion into refugee camps in central Gaza.
On Thursday, Netanyahu said he will give final approval for the seizure of Gaza City despite talks for negotiations.
Speaking to soldiers near Gaza, Netanyahu said he was still set on approving plans for seizing Gaza City, the densely populated centre at the heart of the Palestinian enclave, forcibly displacing close to 1 million people and carrying out the systematic demolitions of Palestinian homes.
The wide-scale operation in Gaza City could start within days after Netanyahu grants final approval.
Israeli forces have already stepped up attacks there, and thousands of Palestinians have left their homes as Israeli tanks edged closer to Gaza City over the last 12 days.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) estimated that 90 percent of Gaza’s residents have been displaced, warning that shelters are deteriorating and any further displacement will worsen the catastrophic situation.
The Palestinian Ministry of Interior denounced Israel’s push to seize Gaza City as a “death sentence” for the more than one million people living there.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has reportedly ordered military chief Eyal Zamir to “besiege” Gaza City, saying anyone who doesn’t flee “can die of hunger or surrender.”
“We ordered you [to carry out] a quick operation. In my opinion, you can besiege them. Whoever doesn’t evacuate, don’t let them,” Smotrich said, according to Channel 12 news.
“No water, no electricity, they can die of hunger or surrender. This is what we want and your capable [of doing it].”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also warned last week that “soon, the gates of hell will open” and “Gaza City will become Rafah and Beit Hanoun.”
“Soon, the gates of hell will open” if Hamas does not agree to “Israel’s conditions for ending the war, primarily the release of all hostages and their disarmament,” Katz said.
“If they do not agree, Gaza [City], the capital of Hamas, will become Rafah and Beit Hanoon,” he added, referring to two cities in the Gaza Strip reduced to ruins during previous Israeli operations.
C. QNN
