Israeli Strikes Level Gaza City Towers Amid Mass Evacuations

 

Smoke and flames rise after an Israeli military strike on a building in Gaza City, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.

Israeli forces have destroyed multiple high-rise buildings in Gaza City following evacuation warnings to residents, as the military intensifies its campaign to seize control of the area. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed striking three towers on Sunday — including the Kawthar Tower, Mahna Tower, and a building on the Islamic University campus — which it said were being used by Hamas for surveillance and operational planning.

The demolitions come days after the IDF ordered the entire population of Gaza City to evacuate ahead of a planned ground offensive. Israeli officials estimate that more than 300,000 Palestinians have fled so far, though hundreds of thousands remain. The United Nations and aid agencies warn that the displacement of such large numbers will worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis, with overcrowding and shortages reported in southern Gaza.

Local health authorities say dozens have been killed in recent strikes, though casualty figures remain contested. Israel maintains that its operations target Hamas infrastructure embedded in civilian areas, while critics argue the scale of destruction risks deepening civilian suffering.