Israel bombards Gaza City as Netanyahu convenes cabinet

CAIRO/JERUSALEM: Israeli forces intensified their bombardment of Gaza City's suburbs overnight with air and ground attacks, destroying homes and pushing more families to flee, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet prepared on Sunday to consider a military plan aimed at seizing control of the city.

Local health authorities said Israeli gunfire and strikes killed no fewer than 30 people on Sunday, including 13 individuals attempting to collect food near an aid site in the central Gaza Strip, and at least two others inside a house in Gaza City.

The Israeli military spokesperson's office said it was reviewing the reports. Regarding the claim of an airstrike that killed two people, it noted insufficient details were available to verify the incident, but reiterated that the military takes steps to minimize civilian harm while conducting operations against militants.


Health authorities in Gaza also reported that at least 15 people, including five children, were killed on Saturday when a residential building in central Gaza City was struck.

Residents of Sheikh Radwan, one of Gaza City's largest neighbourhoods, described heavy tank shelling and repeated airstrikes on Saturday and Sunday that forced many families to seek shelter in western districts of the city.

HAMAS SPOKESPERSON TARGETED
Netanyahu confirmed on Sunday that Israeli forces had targeted Abu Ubaida, the longtime spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing. Defence Minister Israel Katz announced on social media platform X that Abu Ubaida had been killed.

Abu Ubaida, whose real name is Hozayfa Al-Khalout, was a highly visible figure in both Palestinian and Israeli public life. A close associate of Hamas' top military commanders, he had served for nearly two decades as the voice of the al-Qassam Brigades, delivering its messages-often in video statements-while concealing his identity with a red keffiyeh.

He was regarded as one of the most recognizable figures of the militant group's armed wing. In his most recent statement on Friday, he warned that any large-scale Israeli offensive on Gaza City would put hostages at grave risk.