Gaza, September 16 (QNA) – Israeli occupation fighter jets have been carrying out heavy airstrikes on Gaza City for several days, with bombardments escalating overnight and continuing into Tuesday.

The airstrikes, which include air raids and artillery shelling, have targeted residential buildings in an apparent effort to force civilians to flee south, the Palestinian news agency (WAFA) said.

The death toll continues to rise by the hour. Since dawn, more than 40 Palestinians have been martyred and dozens injured, according to local health sources.

In southern Gaza City’s Tel al-Hawa neighborhood, Israeli forces detonated five armored vehicles packed with explosives to demolish homes. Heavy bombardment also continues across southern districts of the city.The World Food Programme warned that forced evacuations from Gaza City are depleting families’ already scarce resources.

The war on Gaza has now entered its 711th day, marked by relentless bombardment, the destruction of homes, and strikes on makeshift shelters, leaving civilians with no safe place to go.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel has launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza as part of the ground phase of Operation “Gideon 2.”

Israeli military sources stated today that Israel has begun the main phase of a ground operation to seize control of Gaza City.

This comes as a United Nations commission of inquiry concluded that Israel committed genocide against Palestinians during its ongoing war on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023. (QNA)