An Israeli airstrike destroyed a 15-storey residential tower in Gaza City on Saturday, marking the second high-rise flattened in two days. The strike came as Israel intensified its campaign and urged civilians to evacuate to the southern Gaza Strip ahead of a planned ground offensive.

Israel has long signaled plans to launch an assault on Gaza’s largest city but has not announced a specific timeline. In recent weeks, the military has increased airstrikes and operations on the city’s outskirts, despite international appeals to halt the offensive due to worsening humanitarian conditions.

Targeting Hamas Strongholds

The Israeli military said the latest strike hit a building where Hamas had set up intelligence-gathering equipment and observation posts. Officials added that “measures to mitigate harm to civilians” were taken before the strike.

Witnesses identified the destroyed building as the Sussi residential tower, which collapsed in a massive cloud of smoke and dust. Defence Minister Israel Katz shared a video of the strike on social media, declaring, “We’re continuing.”

Evacuation Orders and Humanitarian Zone

Soon after the strike, troops issued an evacuation order for another high-rise tower, warning of an imminent attack. Military spokesman Avichay Adraee urged residents to move to Al-Mawasi, a designated area on Gaza’s southern coast described by Israel as a “humanitarian zone.”

He wrote on social media, “Take this opportunity to move early to the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone and join the thousands who have already gone there.”

Civilians Fear for Their Safety

Many Gazans expressed fear and frustration, saying relocation offers little protection from strikes.

Abdel Nasser Mushtaha, 48, who fled from Zeitun and is now sheltering in Rimal, said, “Some say we should evacuate, others say we should stay. But everywhere in Gaza there are bombings and deaths.”

His 20-year-old daughter, Samia, echoed his despair: “It no longer makes any difference. Wherever we go, death pursues us, whether by bombing or hunger.”

Rising Humanitarian Concerns

International agencies have warned of worsening conditions in Gaza as strikes escalate. The destruction of residential towers has intensified fears of mass displacement, with thousands of families forced to move repeatedly in search of safety.

Despite global appeals, Israel has shown no signs of slowing its military operations, instead expanding evacuation orders and targeting areas it links to Hamas activity.