Gaza City residents told: ‘Leave now’

Jerusalem (AFP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told residents of Gaza City on Monday to evacuate, as the military ramped up its deadly assault on the Palestinian territory’s largest urban center.

Israel has been intensifying its bombardment of the city in preparation for an operation to conquer it, despite repeated entreaties from Western nations and aid agencies to stop.

Gaza’s civil defense agency meanwhile said at least 39 people had been killed by Israel, including 25 in Gaza City, on Monday.

The premier’s warning came hours after one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in Jerusalem since the start of the war, in which two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on a bus, killing six people, according to Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

The two gunmen were killed by a security officer and an armed civilian, police said.

Following the attack, Netanyahu said: “Let it be clear: these murders strengthen our determination to fight terrorism.”

Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, had told Hamas earlier on Monday to lay down its arms or face annihilation.

“This is a final warning to the Hamas murderers and rapists in Gaza and in luxury hotels abroad: Release the hostages and put down your weapons — or Gaza will be destroyed and you will be annihilated,” he said on X.

On Monday, Israeli forces targeted a fourth high-rise building in Gaza City in as many days, with AFP footage showing the Al-Ruya tower crashing to the ground moments after being struck.

“All we hear are bombings and ambulances carrying martyrs,” Laila Saqr, a resident, told AFP by telephone.

Saqr, 40, said she used to visit a gym in the tower twice a week, but now, “nothing is left.”

“Israel destroys everything — even the memories. If they could, they would strip the very oxygen from the air.”