Israel’s military offensive in Gaza City and across the Gaza Strip escalated over the weekend, with reports of at least 60 Palestinians killed on Saturday alone, according to Gazan health authorities. The operation has focused on dismantling underground Hamas infrastructure and demolishing residential high-rises, with the Israeli military claiming to have leveled up to 20 tower blocks over the past two weeks.
The renewed assault coincides with a major diplomatic development: 10 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Britain, and Canada, are expected to formally recognize the State of Palestine on Monday, ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York. The issue of Palestinian statehood is expected to dominate the summit.
Escalating Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis
Israel’s campaign, which now includes a ground offensive into key neighborhoods like Sheikh Radwan and Tel Al-Hawa, is pushing deeper into Gaza City’s center and west—areas where the majority of civilians are currently sheltering. Israeli estimates suggest over 500,000 people have fled Gaza City since early September. Hamas, however, claims that only 300,000 have left, with nearly 900,000 civilians still inside, along with 48 Israeli hostages, of whom about 20 are believed to be alive.
Hamas released an image montage of the hostages on Telegram, warning that continued Israeli operations put their lives at risk.
According to Hamas, since August 11, Israel has destroyed or damaged more than 1,800 residential buildings and 13,000 tents used by displaced families in Gaza City. The conflict, now nearing two years, has reportedly killed over 65,000 Palestinians, displaced the vast majority of the population multiple times, and left the region facing a worsening famine.
Aid Disputes and Accusations
While Israel denies the scale of the humanitarian crisis, its military coordination unit COGAT accused Hamas of attacking U.N. aid convoys and blocking the opening of new humanitarian routes. Hamas rejected the claims, blaming the violence on “criminal gangs” operating under Israeli protection. The U.N. has yet to issue a statement on the incident.
A Hamas media spokesperson added,
“We have been calling day and night for U.N. organizations to carry out their humanitarian and relief work.”
International Pressure Mounts
The escalating military campaign comes at a critical diplomatic moment. The planned recognition of Palestinian statehood by major Western nations signals a growing international consensus that the current trajectory of war is unsustainable and that a political resolution is urgently needed.
As the international community prepares for high-level talks at the UN General Assembly, the contrast between deepening humanitarian suffering in Gaza and global calls for Palestinian self-determination is becoming starker than ever.
With momentum building for recognition and pressure mounting on Israel to end the war, the coming weeks could prove pivotal for both the future of Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
