CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters/Pakistan Post Canada) – Israeli forces demolished at least 30 residential buildings in Gaza City on Sunday, forcing thousands of Palestinians to flee their homes, according to local officials. The escalation coincided with the arrival of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is in the region to discuss the conflict’s future and ongoing hostage negotiations.
Israel has announced plans to seize Gaza City — where around one million Palestinians are sheltering — as part of its campaign to dismantle Hamas, intensifying aerial and ground assaults on what it calls the group’s last stronghold.
Meanwhile, a controversial Israeli airstrike in Doha last week targeting Hamas political leaders has drawn widespread international condemnation. Qatar is now set to host an emergency Arab-Islamic summit on Monday to chart the next steps.
Rubio, who visited Jerusalem’s Western Wall, reaffirmed Washington’s recognition of the city as Israel’s capital, a policy first implemented during Donald Trump’s presidency. He is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks on hostages and humanitarian relief.
On the ground, Gaza faces worsening humanitarian conditions. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini confirmed services at the Beach Camp clinic have ceased, with water and sanitation running at half capacity. Over 422 Palestinians, including 145 children, are reported to have died from malnutrition and starvation.
Aid agencies warn that a full Israeli takeover of Gaza City would be catastrophic. The UN estimates hundreds of thousands still remain trapped despite calls for evacuation.
Local authorities report that Israeli operations — including five waves of airstrikes over the past week — have left at least 45 Palestinians dead in the past 24 hours, with thousands of residential structures destroyed.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israel’s nearly two-year-long campaign has killed more than 64,000 people since Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which claimed 1,200 lives and saw 251 hostages taken.
