Israeli tanks Gaza incursion into Sheikh Radwan
Dozens of Israeli tanks Gaza and military vehicles have pushed into Sheikh Radwan, a densely populated residential district in northern Gaza City. Eyewitnesses reported tanks, bulldozers, and armored carriers moving through the area under heavy artillery fire and smoke cover.
The district, once home to tens of thousands, has already suffered months of airstrikes. Israeli forces now describe it as a key stronghold of Hamas, where up to 3,000 fighters remain. The operation aims to free hostages and dismantle the group, but it has drawn sharp international condemnation from aid agencies and rights groups.
Mass displacement and destruction
Wednesday’s advance followed waves of airstrikes that destroyed homes, solar panels, power lines, and even water tanks. Residents said survival became impossible, forcing thousands to flee south despite shortages of transport and soaring costs.
Long convoys of cars and carts crowded the Salahedin Road as families tried to escape. UN agencies estimate at least 190,000 people have fled since August, though Israel puts the figure at 350,000. Still, as many as 650,000 civilians remain in Gaza City.
Humanitarian crisis deepens
Aid groups warn the “safe zones” designated for evacuees are overcrowded and lack basic support. Some families who fled south returned north after finding no space to settle. The UN has cautioned that intensifying the offensive risks pushing Gaza into “even deeper catastrophe.”
The Hamas-run health ministry said more than 65,000 people have been killed since the conflict began, nearly half of them women and children. Within 24 hours, 98 people were reported dead, alongside hundreds wounded. Famine conditions have already claimed at least 154 lives.
Global reaction and accusations
A UN commission this week accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, a claim rejected by Israel as “distorted and false.” Meanwhile, images of Israeli tanks Gaza moving into city streets have fueled panic, reviving memories of earlier incursions that flattened entire neighborhoods.
Despite the backlash, Israel continues to expand its ground campaign, insisting that controlling Sheikh Radwan is vital to advancing deeper into Gaza City and ending Hamas’s resistance.
