Italian
Last night, Gaza City was hit by one of the heaviest offensives since the start of the conflict. Just before midnight, Israeli tanks entered the city, supported by artillery, drones, and carpet bombings.
ISRAEL. By dawn, the toll was already dramatic: over 40 deaths, adding to the 62 recorded the day before. According to Israeli military sources, the IDF has reportedly gained control of 40% of the urban area.
The numbers highlight the severity of the situation: since October 7, 2023, when the latest wave of violence erupted, one-tenth of the Palestinian population has been killed. This figure speaks more than any analysis about the scale of this war.
As bombs continue to fall, civilians are desperately seeking safety to the south. Thousands have taken refuge in the al-Mawasi and Khan Younis camps, but around 700,000 people remain trapped in Gaza City. Here, Hamas exerts pressure in an effort to prevent the city from being emptied.
Grave accusations have emerged: militants reportedly brought 20 Israeli hostages, captured in the October 7 attack, to the surface and are using them as human shields. This strategy intensifies tensions and, as U.S. President Donald Trump has warned, risks turning the hostages into collateral victims of the offensive.
“Gaza is burning. We will not stop until the mission is complete,” wrote Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on social media. The declared objectives: bring the hostages home and eliminate Hamas. This hardline stance has received political and military backing from the United States, with Prime Minister Netanyahu thanking the White House for its “unwavering support.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, en route to Qatar, emphasized Doha’s central role as the only possible mediator with Hamas. But in the Arab-Islamic context, reactions are divided: the ongoing summit condemned the Israeli attack, warning of the risks of collapsing the fragile balances established by the Abraham Accords.
The tragedy spares even the small Christian community. A video shared by Father Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of the Holy Family in Gaza, shows worshippers praying interrupted by a loud explosion: a bomb detonated just meters from the church. The footage is a stark reminder that no place, not even religious sites, is safe today.
Last night’s operation was not just a military action: it confirmed that Israel does not intend to stop before defeating Hamas. It also demonstrates that Gaza is becoming a total battlefield, where civilians remain the most vulnerable and defenseless targets.
