The Israel Defense Forces demolished a high-rise block in Gaza City on Saturday, the second major tower to be brought down in two days as Israeli operations in the enclave expanded.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz posted footage of the Sussi Tower collapsing on X with the caption, "We're continuing." The IDF said the building had been used by Hamas; the armed group denied the allegation. It was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties.
Ahead of the strike, the Israeli military distributed leaflets urging Palestinian residents to relocate to what it described as a humanitarian zone in the south. The IDF has repeatedly urged civilians to move to al-Mawasi, an area between Khan Younis and the coastline, saying medical care, water and food will be provided there. In a social media post, IDF Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee urged residents to "join the thousands of people who have already gone" to al-Mawasi.
The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have warned that tent camps in al-Mawasi are already overcrowded and strained, raising concerns about the capacity to absorb further displaced people. The UN has reported shortages of shelter, water and basic services in southern displacement sites.
The Sussi Tower strike follows the demolition of another high-rise in Gaza City the previous day. Israeli officials say such structures have been used by Hamas for military purposes, a claim repeatedly denied by the group. The IDF said its operations in Gaza are being expanded as part of a campaign it describes as targeting militant infrastructure.
Local and international monitors have not independently verified the IDF's specific claims about the use of the Sussi Tower. Access for journalists and aid agencies in many parts of Gaza remains limited amid ongoing hostilities and restrictions on movement.
Humanitarian organizations have voiced alarm at the pace of displacement and the scale of destruction in densely populated urban areas. The collapse of high-rise buildings exacerbates already severe needs for shelter, medical care and clean water among civilians across Gaza.
This reporting draws on accounts from BBC Gaza correspondent Rushdi Abualouf, reporting from Istanbul, and Wyre Davies, and on statements released by the Israel Defense Forces and United Nations agencies. Further verification of casualties and damage is expected as aid groups and monitors gain access to affected areas.