Last Updated:
The Israeli Defense Forces announced the beginning of a ‘major offensive’, saying it aimed to dismantle Hamas’s infrastructure in Gaza
Smoke billows as Israeli airstrikes destroy the al-Ghafari tower in Gaza City on Monday. (AFP)
Israel has launched one of its most intense aerial bombardments on Gaza in recent months, targeting multiple residential and strategic locations across Gaza City, as hopes for a ceasefire continue to fade. The strikes have flattened buildings, displaced tens of thousands, and prompted warnings from international officials about an impending humanitarian disaster.
According to the Times of India, videos from the ground show entire buildings in Gaza being razed to rubble by Israeli airstrikes, with large plumes of smoke engulfing the skyline. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced the beginning of a “major offensive,” saying it aimed to dismantle Hamas’s infrastructure in Gaza.
Recommended Stories
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Sunday said Israel was “tightening the noose” around Hamas in Gaza and has already achieved “significant progress” in degrading the group’s military capabilities. Gaza City, he said, was “on fire” and “we will not relent and we will not back down until the mission is accomplished”, Katz said.
Amid the growing violence, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Israel over the weekend and reinforced America’s support for Israel’s right to defend itself. In a strong rebuke of Hamas, Rubio referred to the group as “savages,” accusing them of using Palestinian civilians as human shields and exploiting ceasefire talks to regroup.
“There are people in the region, including savages like Hamas, who have no interest in peace,” Rubio was quoted as saying by news agency AFP. He added that the US remained committed to supporting Israel but stressed that the opportunity for a diplomatic resolution was “shrinking”.
US officials indicated that ceasefire efforts, mainly brokered by Qatar, had stalled. Rubio suggested the “window of opportunity” for a peaceful resolution might close within weeks if progress isn’t made soon.
Witnesses told AFP of heavy, relentless bombing on Gaza City, much of which is already in rubble after nearly two years of Israeli bombardment since the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas. “We can hear their screams,” said 25-year-old resident Ahmed Ghazal.
With Israeli airstrikes expanding across northern and central Gaza, Palestinian civilians are fleeing en masse. The Times of India reported that large numbers of people have been attempting to evacuate toward the south of the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli military claims “humanitarian corridors” are in place.
However, reports from the ground indicate that the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. Many parts of southern Gaza, including Khan Younis, have also been targeted in recent weeks. According to NDTV, over one million people are at risk of famine, though Israeli officials dispute those numbers and accuse Hamas of obstructing aid deliveries.
The recent escalation comes as indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, facilitated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, have failed to produce results. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that the military campaign would continue until Hamas is fully dismantled and all hostages are freed.
About the Author
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
Israel
September 16, 2025, 15:35 IST
Loading comments…
Read More
 "Watch | JeM terrorist’s big admission: ‘Masood Azhar’s family members torn into pieces’ in Op Sindoor")
