Dozens of Israeli tanks and military vehicles rolled into Sheikh Radwan, a key residential district in northern Gaza City, marking the second day of Israel’s ground assault aimed at seizing control of the area.
The push has set off a fresh wave of displacement and intensified fears among residents still trapped in the city.
Video footage captured tanks, bulldozers, and armoured carriers entering the outskirts of Sheikh Radwan under heavy artillery fire and smoke cover.
Thick plumes rose above the neighbourhood as explosions echoed across one of Gaza City’s most crowded districts, which was once home to tens of thousands before the war.
Israel has said its Gaza City offensive seeks to rescue hostages held by Hamas and defeat what it claims are up to 3,000 fighters in the group’s “last stronghold.” But the operation has drawn sharp criticism abroad.
More than 20 aid organisations, including Oxfam and Save the Children, warned that “the inhumanity of the situation in Gaza is unconscionable.”
Residents reported that Wednesday’s incursion was preceded by a series of intense airstrikes across Sheikh Radwan, demolishing streets and buildings. Saad Hamada, who fled south with his family earlier in the day, told the BBC: “The drones didn't leave anything. They hit solar panels, power generators, water tanks, even the internet network. Life became impossible, and that is what forced most people to leave despite the danger.”
The advance into Sheikh Radwan has forced thousands more families to evacuate. Long lines of vehicles and donkey carts carrying belongings crowded the Salahedin Road after Israeli forces opened a route south. Locals said trips lasted hours and transport costs soared due to limited availability.
The district, which includes Abu Iskandar, al-Tawam, and al-Saftawi areas, is cut by al-Jalaa Street, a vital road connecting central Gaza City with its northern sections.
Residents fear that Israeli control of Sheikh Radwan could pave the way for troops to move deeper into the city’s central neighbourhoods. Witnesses said the sight of tanks approaching revived memories of earlier invasions that left entire areas flattened.
Sheikh Radwan has already endured months of bombardment, with schools, mosques, and marketplaces destroyed. Still, the entry of tanks marks a new stage in the offensive.
The Israel Defense Forces announced it had struck more than 150 sites across Gaza City in two days to back up its troops, while Israeli media reported that remotely operated vehicles loaded with explosives were being used against Hamas positions.
Residents described a night of relentless strikes. Nidal al-Sherbi told BBC Arabic: “Last night was extremely difficult, with continuous explosions and shelling that lasted from night until dawn. Israeli vehicles advanced from Sheikh Radwan, Tal al-Hawa, and also from Shejaiya. It was a very, very frightening night.”
Aid agencies and the UN say the so-called “humanitarian area” designated for civilians is already overcrowded and unable to host the nearly two million people expected to move there. Some families who evacuated returned north after finding no space to set up shelters.
Munir Azzam, still in northern Gaza, said: “Everyday leaflets are thrown at us ordering evacuation, while the Israeli army shells buildings in every direction. But where can we go? We have no refuge in the south.”
The IDF said about 350,000 people have left Gaza City, while UN estimates suggest 190,000 have been displaced since August. Aid groups believe around 650,000 civilians remain inside the city.
