5 Sep 2025 4:28 pm
Not a good idea to **** with Israel.
Israel bombs Gaza high-rise apartment building in escalated offensive
(Full article at above link)
Sept. 5 - Israel Defense Forces said Friday that an airstrike hit a high-rise apartment building in Gaza City used by militant Hamas in the first escalated offensive to take total control of the Palestinian city. The airstrikes occurred one day after a military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, that the IDf was in control of 40% the city. Last month, Israel announced the military offensive would expand in Gaza City, considered Hamas' last stronghold in Gaza. A video verified the bombings, which was near encampment tents in the Rimal neighborhood of western Gaza City. "The bolt is now being lifted from the gates of hell in Gaza," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. "Once the gate is opened, it will not be closed, and IDF operations will intensify until Hamas murderers and rapists accept Israel's conditions to end the war, foremost among them the release of all the hostages and disarmament or be destroyed. "The new offensive is not backed by IDF Chief of Staff Gen. Eyal Zamir, and the leaders of Mossad and Shin Bet military intelligence. They told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to launch the operation because it would endanger the lives of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, cause heavy IDF casualties, inhibit the ability to dismantle Hamas and force Israel to rule over the region. There originally were 2.4 million Palestinians on the Gaza Strip. Israel officials say only 70,000 remain on the 141 square miles. On Friday, the IDF warned "over the coming days," several buildings will be attacked "that have been converted into terrorist infrastructure in preparation for expanding the operation into Gaza City: cameras, surveillance rooms, sniper and anti-tank missile launching positions, and command and control centers."The airstrikes are backed by U.S. Donald Trump, who posted Wednesday on Truth Social the ultimatum: "Tell Hamas to IMMEDIATELY give back all 20 Hostages (Not 2 or 5 or 7!), and things will change rapidly. IT WILL END!
"Hamas then issued a statement offering to release all hostages in exchange for an end to the war and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Netanyahu called it "spin."Israeli officials believe 48 hostages are being held, with 20 believed to be alive. Since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said more than 64,000 Palestinians have died.