Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proudly declared a new military offensive in Gaza City, stating, “We are destroying the terrorist infrastructure, we are demolishing the towers of terror.” The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have for three consecutive days targeted the city’s tallest buildings, which Israel claims are “used by Hamas” as “observation points to monitor the position of Israeli troops.”
The most recent structure destroyed was the Al-Ruya tower, the third high-rise reduced to rubble in 72 hours. Netanyahu announced that military maneuvers are being “intensified” in the city. However, the bombings are not limited to towers; according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera, a tent, homes, and a shelter-school were also struck, resulting in at least 21 fatalities.
This violence unfolds alongside a worsening hunger crisis, which claimed five more lives, including three children, in 24 hours, raising the famine’s death toll to 387 since the war’s start. Prior to striking the Al-Ruya tower, the IDF urged civilians to relocate to designated “humanitarian zones” in Al Mawasi and Khan Yunis. Netanyahu claimed that “about 100,000 people have already left Gaza City,” but accused Hamas of trying to prevent their evacuation to use them as “human shields.”
Hamas offers a contrasting narrative, denouncing the strikes on towers as “war crimes” that target “civilian-used” buildings. Gaza’s Civil Defense stated that at least 50 buildings in Gaza City have been completely destroyed and another 100 damaged by Israeli attacks.
Amid the escalating ground offensive, a diplomatic solution remains elusive. According to Israel’s Channel 12, the U.S. President has presented Hamas with a new comprehensive proposal. It calls for the release of all hostages (living and deceased) on the first day of an agreement in exchange for the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners—including hundreds of terrorists—and an end to the Israeli operation in Gaza. The report claims former President Trump would directly manage the negotiations, with a ceasefire lasting until talks conclude. While Israel is reportedly prepared to accept the deal, Hamas has not yet responded.
The conflict also spilled into Israel, where a Houthi drone penetrated IDF defenses and struck a terminal at Eilat-Ramon airport, causing minor damage, one light injury, and a temporary closure of airspace. The military had earlier intercepted three other drones launched from Yemen. Two rockets fired from Gaza toward southern Israeli communities were intercepted or landed in open areas.
International condemnation of the Israeli offensive and solidarity with Palestinians continues to grow. In the UK, a heavy-handed police response to a London protest in support of the banned group Palestine Action sparked controversy, with 890 arrests made on Saturday alone. This brings the total number of demonstrators detained in London in recent weeks to over 1,500, fueling accusations of unprecedented repression.
Meanwhile, the departure of the Global Sumud Flotilla from Tunisia, bound for Gaza, has been postponed to September 10 for technical and logistical reasons. Hundreds of supporters gathered at the Sidi Bou Said marina with Palestinian flags and pro-Palestinian chants to see off the vessels.