Israel Captures 40% Gaza City Amid Mass Civilian Displacement

Israel has captured 40 percent of Gaza City amid a brutal offensive that has killed over 1,100 Palestinians and wounded 6,000 in the past 20 days, with many civilians facing starvation and forced displacement. The Israeli military is using artillery, blockades, and targeting of hospitals and aid trucks to pressure Palestinians to flee, while international observers accuse Israel of ethnic cleansing. Meanwhile, Hamas is exerting harsh control within Gaza, violently beating civilians and merchants who refuse to comply with its strict economic directives, including accepting deteriorated currency amid a worsening cash crisis. Videos show Hamas members beating Gazan civilians for taking food without permission and merchants for rejecting cash payments, reflecting the group's efforts to maintain order and control resources amid the siege. Additionally, reports reveal Hamas obstructing the movement of Gaza residents to use them as human shields against Israeli forces. These developments highlight the humanitarian, economic, and political pressures facing Gaza’s population as the conflict intensifies.