Israeli Forces Advance Into Gaza City Amid Rising Civilian Casualties and Ceasefire Calls

Israeli forces pushed deeper into Gaza City on Wednesday, intensifying a military campaign that has placed civilians at extreme risk. Despite international pressure for a ceasefire, many Palestinians who hoped to remain safe in their homes now face relentless bombardment and advancing ground troops.

U.S. President Donald Trump met Muslim leaders at the United Nations in New York on Tuesday, with discussions focused on ending the war. Trump criticized countries that recognized a Palestinian state, reaffirming his commitment to Israel, while noting that a meeting with Israeli officials would follow.

Residents of Gaza City report that tanks have entered densely populated neighborhoods, including Tel Al-Hawa, where families were trapped as Israeli armor advanced near Al-Quds Hospital. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society confirmed damage to an oxygen station, while witnesses reported tanks moving close to Al Shifa, Gaza’s largest hospital. Earlier, shelling damaged Rantissi and Al-Naser hospitals, forcing closures. Jordan relocated its medical facility further south due to repeated bombardments.

Airstrikes also struck a shelter housing displaced families near a central market, killing at least 20 people, according to medics. Survivors described the attack as sudden and without warning, leaving women and children buried under rubble. Additional strikes in Nuseirat and near Rafah killed seven more people, further fueling anger and despair.

The humanitarian toll is staggering: over 65,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed, and famine conditions are worsening, local health officials said. Hundreds of thousands have fled south, though many remain trapped with no safe refuge. Israel continues to insist its campaign is aimed at eliminating Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack killed 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostages.

International frustration has grown, with some Israeli and U.S. allies now formally recognizing a Palestinian state. At the same time, support for the war in Israel has weakened as 48 hostages—20 believed alive—remain in captivity, and 465 Israeli soldiers have been killed.