Israel’s army chief coordinates with navy to step up Gaza City attacks
The Israeli military has released footage of army chief Eyal Zamir visiting the Haifa naval base to discuss increased attacks on Gaza City as Israel prepares to seize it.
Zamir was quoted as saying that the military continues to prepare to “expand the operation with a focus on Gaza City, and the navy must be ready to defend and assist the ground forces in attack”.
He said the army has achieved its war objectives, “including deeply damaging Hamas, removing threats from the border and the settlements, and as a result of military pressure, creating the conditions for the release of the hostages”.
The Israeli navy “carried out secret and necessary operations for the security of the state throughout the Middle East”, according to Zamir.
Gaza is ‘hell in all shapes’ after famine classification, says UNRWA chief
Commissioner-General for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, says famine is the “last calamity” hitting Gaza, calling it “Hell in all shapes”.
“‘Never Again' has deliberately become again. This will haunt us. Denial is the most obscene expression of dehumanisation,” Lazzarini wrote on X
He added that it was time for the Israeli government to “stop promoting a different narrative” and allow aid organisations to provide assistance and for foreign journalists to be allowed into the enclave.
“Every hour counts. Open the gates. Ceasefire now,” Lazzarini urged.
#famine is the last calamity hitting the people of #Gaza
Hell in all shapes.
“Never Again” has deliberately become again.
This will haunt us.
Denial is the most obscene expression of dehumanization.
It’s time for the Government of Israel to stop promoting a different…
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) August 24, 2025
Over 1,000 buildings destroyed in two major Gaza City areas: Civil Defence
Gaza’s Civil Defence reports that amid intensified Israeli air strikes on Gaza City, more than 1,000 buildings have been destroyed in the Zeitoun and Sabra neighbourhoods since August 6.
Hundreds of bodies of killed Palestinians are still stuck under the rubble, while ongoing shelling and lack of access routes and resources prevent many aid operations, the rescue organisation said in a statement.
It added that emergency workers continue to receive a large number of reports of missing persons or casualties from those areas, but are unable to respond. It warned that medical teams cannot cope with the toll of the Israeli attacks, and that “there is no safe area in the Gaza Strip”.
As we reported on Saturday, Israeli tanks were documented rolling into the Sabra neighbourhood, indicating further destruction is expected as Israel moves to seize Gaza City.
Smoke rises in the background following Israeli attacks on the Zeitoun and Sabra neighbourhoods of Gaza City, as seen from a nearby cemetery on August 23
