Israel intensifies assault on Gaza city, killing 78 across the enclave

Israel has escalated its military campaign in Gaza City, killing at least 78 Palestinians across the besieged enclave since dawn, according to Palestinian officials.

Among the victims were 32 individuals reportedly searching for food, amid what rights groups are calling a worsening humanitarian crisis.

On Sunday, shelling near al-Quds Hospital ignited fires in tents sheltering displaced families. According to the Palestinian Civil Defence, at least five people were killed and three injured after a residential apartment was struck in the Remal neighbourhood.

Ismail al-Thawabta, director of Gaza’s Government Media Office, accused the Israeli military of deploying “explosive robots” in densely populated areas.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), al-Thawabta said that more than 80 such devices have been detonated in civilian neighborhoods over the past three weeks. He described the tactics as part of a “scorched-earth policy” that has razed homes and endangered lives.

“Despite the destruction and starvation caused by the Israeli assault, more than one million Palestinians in Gaza City and the north refuse to submit to the policy of forced displacement and ethnic cleansing,” he stated.

Footage shared on social media and verified by Al Jazeera captured the aftermath of an Israeli aerial strike in the Sabra neighbourhood in southern Gaza City. The video, posted by Palestinian journalist Faiz Osama, shows a child with a leg injury screaming in pain, while a man lies motionless nearby with an apparent head wound. Smoke can be seen rising from the rubble in the background.

The Israeli military has yet to comment on the latest claims, but previous statements have emphasized the goal of dismantling Hamas infrastructure in Gaza. However, growing international concern over civilian casualties and mass displacement has intensified calls for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access.

The current offensive follows nearly a year of conflict in Gaza, where over 38,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to local health authorities. Aid agencies warn that food, water, and medical supplies are nearing total depletion as bombardments continue.

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The latest offensive marks a significant intensification of operations aimed at seizing the territory’s largest urban center and displacing over one million residents to the south.