Katz says ‘gates of hell opening in Gaza’ as forced evacuation order issued for high-rise tower
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has said the “gates of hell are opening now” in Gaza and that the military had issued a forced evacuation order for a high-rise building in Gaza City.
“When the gate is opened, it will not be closed, and [Israeli military] activity will intensify until the Hamas murderers and rapists accept Israel’s conditions for ending the war – led by the release of all the hostages and disarmament – or they will be destroyed,” he said in a statement on X.
The Israeli Army Radio has named the building to be forcibly evacuated as the Mushtaha Tower in the west of Gaza City, which had been attacked and partially destroyed by Israeli forces earlier in the war.
Israel destroys multistorey building in Gaza City
A very short time after the forced evacuation order was issued for the 12-storey Mushtaha tower, the building was levelled to the ground by Israeli fighter jets.
At the moment there are huge plumes of black smoke coming from the area. Witnesses in the area report that the ground was shaking beneath their feet when the tower was targeted. Initial reports suggest the tower was hit by multiple missiles that led to its full destruction.
It’s worth mentioning that the tower is located in one of the most densely populated areas where people have fled bombardment elsewhere in the city.
Israel attack on tower marks ‘terrifying shift’ towards targeting high-rise buildings in Gaza City
It’s been a fast-moving situation over the past few hours. The Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, stated that the “gates of hell” are opening now in Gaza City, confirming that the Israeli military has issued a forced evacuation order for one of the high-rise buildings in Gaza City – which was destroyed by Israeli jets shortly afterwards.
The building is called the Mushtaha Tower, it’s a 12-storey building located on the western side of Gaza City and surrounded by hundreds of makeshift tents, as this portion of the city is considered to be the last refuge for families fleeing areas of bombardment in the eastern outskirts.
Katz’s comments mark a very terrifying shift in the bombardment campaign taking place in Gaza City, as we are witnessing a new phase of deadly air strikes that will primarily focus on high-rise towers on Gaza City, which contains hundreds of these towers that are mostly in densely populated areas.
It’s worth also saying that air strikes are also intensifying in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood of Gaza City.
We have received reports that the Israeli military has issued new forced evacuation orders for more areas in the very heart of Gaza City, marking a very deadly surge in air strikes and expanded ground operations aiming to completely – as the Israeli military says – “defeat Hamas” and to control this area.
There is a great deal of fear and uncertainty in Gaza City right now, especially around the forced evacuation areas, as people do not know where they can go to find safety. And the journey to the south of Gaza might be the final journey for them, from which they might not be able to return to Gaza City.
What is truly excruciating about displacement in Gaza City at the moment is not just what families will leave behind, nor the uncertain path ahead, but it’s more about the weight of loss, the grief and the complete strangeness and unfamiliarity that is taking place.
Attacks on high-rise buildings not over yet
The building just struck is one street away from the area that we are seeking as a base to broadcast our coverage in the western parts of Gaza City. Fifteen minutes’ warning, that’s not enough of a window for people to evacuate the vicinity.
Another explosion just took place. The attack is not over yet.
Meanwhile, a forced evacuation order has also been issued for another building towards the centre of Gaza City.
