Gaza City Under Relentless Attack as UN Warns of Genocide and Humanitarian Collapse:

Gaza City, Sept 17, 2025 — In what is being described as the most punishing phase of Israel’s two-year war on Gaza, the Israeli military has unleashed a wave of intense bombardment on Gaza City, sending tens of thousands of civilians fleeing in desperation. The city, already devastated by years of conflict, is now being reduced to rubble under a fierce new offensive. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz declared on social media, “Gaza is burning,” as scenes of chaos unfolded on the ground — families packed onto vans, donkey carts, and even on foot, clutching what little they could carry, escaping through the smoke-filled streets. The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the offensive, calling it “morally, politically, and legally intolerable.” His remarks came just hours after the UN Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide — a landmark determination supported by evidence of statements from Israeli officials showing a “specific intent” to destroy Palestinians as a people. On Tuesday alone, at least 91 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, including several civilians trying to flee via the coastal al-Rashid Street. One airstrike reportedly hit a vehicle filled with people attempting to escape. In addition, 17 residential buildings were leveled, including the historic Aybaki Mosque in the Tuffah neighbourhood. The scale of destruction has escalated with the use of explosive-laden robots, with rights group Euro-Med Monitor stating that Israel has deployed at least 15 such machines — each capable of flattening 20 housing units. Despite the devastation, the Israeli military says it is preparing for a prolonged ground campaign. Aerial footage released on Tuesday showed large convoys of tanks and armored vehicles pushing into the heart of Gaza City. Army spokesperson Effie Defrin admitted the operation could take “several months” but vowed to continue “no matter how long it takes.” The humanitarian cost is already staggering. Medical sources reported that 106 people were killed across Gaza on Tuesday alone. Meanwhile, the city's population — once estimated at over 1 million — is in flux. Israeli estimates suggest 350,000 people have fled, while Gaza’s Government Media Office claims many remain displaced within the city itself, with about 190,000 escaping completely. Even those who flee face grim conditions in the south. Al-Mawasi, a supposed “safe zone” near Rafah and Khan Younis, is overcrowded and under threat. The camp, already home to thousands displaced from earlier phases of the war, has been hit by Israeli airstrikes, worsening the humanitarian crisis. Facing dire conditions, a trend of “reverse displacement” is emerging. On Tuesday, Gaza’s authorities reported that 15,000 people had returned to the ruins of Gaza City, unable to survive in the south. The international response is growing more vocal. France’s Foreign Ministry criticized Israel’s “destructive campaign, which no longer has any military logic,” and called for a return to negotiations. Irish President Michael D. Higgins went further, accusing Israel of genocide and urging the international community to reconsider arms sales and trade ties with Israel. Palestine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the UN’s genocide findings, warning of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe. “The situation in Gaza today portends a humanitarian catastrophe that cannot tolerate any leniency or delay,” the ministry said in a statement. As Gaza burns, the world watches a catastrophe unfold — one with implications not only for the people of Palestine and Israel, but for the global community’s commitment to human rights, international law, and justice.

NEWS