At least 40 people were killed in Gaza on Saturday amid intensified Israeli strikes, according to the territory’s civil defence agency, as Israel signals a looming push to capture Gaza City.
The Israeli military said preparations are underway to relocate civilians from combat zones in northern Gaza to the south, with plans to deliver more tents and shelter materials beginning Sunday.
“This is part of efforts to protect civilians ahead of operations in Gaza City,” said COGAT, the Israeli defence body overseeing civil affairs in the Palestinian territories.
Hamas has condemned the move, calling it a “brutal assault aimed at occupying Gaza City.”
Heavy bombardments have focused on the Zeitun neighbourhood, where thousands of residents are reportedly trapped without food or water. Civil defence spokesperson Mahmud Bassal told AFP that approximately 50,000 people are still in the area, struggling to survive under worsening conditions.
Saturday’s reported casualties include 13 people allegedly shot while attempting to collect food aid in both northern and southern Gaza, according to the agency.
The Israeli military said it remains committed to limiting civilian casualties and operates “in strict accordance with international law,” but also questioned the accuracy of casualty figures released by Gaza authorities.
The push into Gaza City follows the Israeli cabinet’s recent approval of plans to expand military operations across the enclave. The Zeitun area, in particular, has seen increased ground incursions and aerial bombardments, according to both Palestinian residents and Israeli statements.
“We don’t sleep anymore,” said Ghassan Kashko, a resident sheltering with his family in a school in Zeitun. “The explosions never stop.”
International concern has been growing over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. UN experts have warned of looming famine, with Israel significantly restricting the flow of humanitarian aid into the territory.
The war began in October 2023 after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing over 1,200 people. In response, Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza — figures considered credible by the United Nations.
