Fear Deepens as Israel Targets Tall Buildings in Gaza

• Military already struck a high-rise in Gaza City

• Army claims Hamas is using towers for reconnaissance

• Residents, especially children, live in heightened fear

The Israeli army has announced that high-rise buildings still standing in Gaza are now targets.

The news has sparked deep anxiety among residents, especially children, already living in constant fear.

“The news about Israel beginning to bomb towers and apartment buildings is terrifying. Everyone is scared and doesn’t know where to go,” said Ahmed Abu Wutfa, 45, who is sheltering with his family in a partially destroyed fifth-floor apartment in western Gaza City.

“My children are terrified, and so am I. There is no safe place — we only hope that death comes quickly,” he told AFP by phone.

On Thursday, the Israeli military struck a high-rise in Gaza City, saying it was targeting structures used by Hamas, particularly tall buildings.

The escalation comes as Israel intensifies its campaign to capture Gaza’s largest urban center after nearly two years of devastating war. The army has expanded its forces, increased bombardments, and advanced operations on the outskirts of the city.

In a statement, the military said it had “identified significant Hamas activity within a wide variety of infrastructure sites in Gaza City, particularly in high-rise buildings.”

It added that in the coming days, forces would strike structures that have been converted into “terrorist infrastructure,” including cameras, observation posts, command-and-control centers, sniper nests, and anti-tank firing positions.

Less than an hour later, the army confirmed it had already hit one high-rise, claiming Hamas had used it “to advance and execute attacks against Israeli troops in the area.”