As FAKTI already reported, Israel launched an offensive against Gaza late Monday night, and the city is under massive bombardment.
First, the Air Force launched massive airstrikes on the city, after which tanks entered it.
According to the Axios portal, the goal of the offensive is the occupation of Gaza.
According to Ynet, in just 20 minutes the settlement was attacked 37 times, including by helicopters.
WAFA news agency reports that 62 people were killed.
Gaza City is under “massive and continuous“ bombings early on the morning of September 16, Agence France-Presse reported, citing eyewitnesses.
“Gaza City is under massive and continuous bombardment and the threat is growing“, Ahmed Ghazal, a resident of the city, told the agency.
He pointed out that there are destroyed buildings and people are trapped under the rubble.
Earlier, the Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Eyal Zamir, the heads of the Mossad intelligence service, the General Security Service and Military Intelligence advised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from the operation.
They warned that the offensive could endanger the lives of Israeli hostages in the city, cause heavy losses to the Israel Defense Forces and force Tel Aviv to establish military rule over Gaza, as well as prevent the elimination of the Palestinian Hamas movement.
After the operation began, the families of the hostages pitched tents near Netanyahu's residence.
On August 21, the Israeli prime minister approved plans to establish control over Gaza City and defeat Hamas. The day before, the troops launched an offensive. According to the army radio "Galei Tzahal", the operation will last until 2026. At its peak, up to 130 thousand reservists will participate in it.
Earlier last month, the prime minister announced his intention to take control of the entire territory of the enclave in order to "provide a security perimeter". According to him, Tel Aviv will later transfer it under the control of a civilian government.
Several countries, including Egypt and Qatar, condemned Israel's plans. In mid-August, they presented a proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, followed by a complete end to the conflict. The agreement also provides for the release of half of the Israeli hostages kidnapped on October 7, 2023, in exchange for some Palestinian prisoners. Hamas supported the initiative, but Tel Aviv has not yet responded.