Israeli tanks were stationed on Wednesday ahead of a planned ground operation on the enclave’s largest urban area, according to eyewitnesses and satellite images.
In the midst of the military accumulation, tens of thousands of Palestinians continued to leave the city before Israel announced plans for a ground invasion.
Israeli forces announced on Tuesday that a ground operation had begun, but images of witnesses and satellites revealed that the tanks had not yet entered the city.
Israel’s new operations are against international condemnation, warning that parts of Gaza are officially declared under hunger, just as the UN and others have warned that the attacks will exacerbate the already tragic humanitarian crisis. On Tuesday, an independent UN investigation concluded that Israel had committed genocide for the first time, but Israel denied it.
Over the past 24 hours, 98 people have been killed across Gaza, resulting in deaths since the war began with more than 65,000 people.
The ministry does not distinguish between reporting the deaths of combatants and civilians, but has previously said that around 70% of Gaza’s victims are women and children.
It is unclear how many people are still in Gaza city, where they are, or where those leaving.
Israeli military officials told CNN on Tuesday to figures that CNN cannot independently verify, large tent camps across the city are still shown on satellite images, but more than 350,000 people remain.
The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) was published on Wednesday X, detailing the new routes civilians should use to leave the city. It said movement will be permitted along Sarah Al Din Street, the territory’s main north-south artery. In what appears to be an effort to accelerate the forced exodus from Gaza city, the IDF said the route will only be open for 48 hours until noon on Friday in the region.
Akram Abu Watfa, 30, told CNN that he and his family had been sleeping three nights on the streets of Sheikradwan, north of Gaza city.
“We arrive at Dale Al Bala (South Gaza) on empty land and try to buy some wood and tent supplies,” he said.
Witnesses told CNN on Wednesday that Israeli tanks and troops were gathering in the Sheikh Radwan Pond area just north of Gaza city. Satellite image Tuesday showed that the tanks had moved towards Gaza from their previous position, but had not entered the city itself. The armored vehicle traveled about two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the direction of Jikim, which crossed Gaza’s northern border with Israel.
Israeli forces have gathered two major armored vehicles groups, Sheikh Radwan, north of Gaza, to the north of Gaza, in an additional detachment of armored vehicles stationed along the road heading towards Israel.
The IDF says it continues its strike against Gaza City’s “Hamas Position,” including what is described as a weapons production facility that hit Monday. Wednesday said it had supported ground forces over the past 24 hours to attack more than 150 targets across Gaza City.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health said that among the attacks was the only children’s hospital in Gaza, the Al Lantisi Children’s Hospital in Gaza. The ministry said the upper floors of the hospital, where 80 children are being treated, have been attacked three times. No details of the victim occurred. CNN contacted the Israeli military for comment.
An NGO working in Gaza, a medical aid for Palestinians, said the emergency department of the city’s hospital “is dealing with a heavily exhausted inventory of essential medicines and supplies,” said the city’s hospital.
International outrage over Israeli operations in Gaza continues to mount. China’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it strongly opposed the attack and urged Israel to halt military operations in Gaza at once.
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Canada also condemned Israeli attacks, and the European Commission proposed new trade sanctions targeting Israel and far-right Israeli ministers in response to an ongoing campaign.
If the measure is approved by a member of the European Union, the bloc’s free trade agreement with Israel will be partially suspended. Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the committee would “suppose its trade concessions with Israel, sanction extremist pastors and violent settlers, and put bilateral support on hold in Israel.”
“The goal is not to punish Israel; the goal is to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” said Kaja Kallas, the head of foreign policy for the EU.
However, some member states have expressed reservations on such drastic moves. According to the European Commission, the EU is Israel’s largest trading partner, accounting for 32% of Israel’s total trade based on 2024 data.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saa said that Europe’s movements are “moral and politically distorted,” adding that “the movement against Israel will be harmful to European interests.”
