Israel Intensifies Unprecedented Ground Offensive, Warns Gaza City Residents Amid Rising Casualties

Israel has intensified its military offensive in Gaza City, using "unprecedented force" including heavy shelling, air strikes, and tank fire targeting neighborhoods such as Al-Sabra, Tal al-Hawa, Sheikh Radwan, and Tel Al-Hawa. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have urged residents to flee southward to a "humanitarian area," yet many Palestinians report lacking means to evacuate or find safe destinations amid continuous bombardment. Since the operation's escalation, an estimated 480,000 to 600,000 people have fled Gaza City, while those remaining face dire conditions worsened by a UN-declared famine and repeated displacements. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with over 65,000 Palestinians killed and more than 166,000 wounded since the war began nearly two years ago. Amid this humanitarian crisis, some Western countries, including Portugal, Britain, and France, plan to recognize a Palestinian state at an upcoming United Nations General Assembly session. Concurrently, the Trump administration seeks congressional approval to sell Israel $6.4 billion in military support, underscoring ongoing international dimensions of the conflict.