Military Forces Position Outside Gaza’s Largest City as International Sanctions Loom

 

Israeli armored forces established positions around Gaza City’s perimeter Wednesday, preparing for a planned ground assault on the enclave’s most populous urban center, according to witness accounts and satellite surveillance data.

The military buildup coincides with massive civilian displacement, as tens of thousands of Palestinians evacuate the city. Gaza City housed approximately one million residents—many previously displaced multiple times—before Israeli authorities announced their incursion plans.

Despite Tuesday announcements that ground operations had commenced, eyewitness reports and aerial imagery confirm that armored units remain positioned outside city limits rather than entering urban areas.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

This military action proceeds despite widespread international condemnation and United Nations warnings that the assault will exacerbate an already catastrophic humanitarian situation. Parts of Gaza have been officially declared under famine conditions, while an independent UN inquiry concluded Tuesday that genocide has occurred, allegations Israel firmly denies.

Palestinian health ministry data indicates 98 fatalities across Gaza over the past 24 hours, raising total war casualties beyond 65,000. The ministry does not differentiate between military and civilian deaths but previously reported approximately 70 percent of casualties involve women and children.

Uncertainty remains regarding Gaza City’s current population and evacuation destinations, as southern Gaza areas are severely overcrowded with displaced persons. Satellite imagery reveals extensive tent encampments throughout the city, though Israeli military officials claim over 350,000 people have departed—figures independently unverifiable.

Forced Evacuation Accelerates

The Israel Defense Forces announced Wednesday a new civilian evacuation route along Salah al-Din Street, Gaza’s primary north-south corridor. Officials designated this route available for 48 hours only, until Friday midday, appearing to accelerate forced population exodus from Gaza City.

Akram Abu Watfa, a 30-year-old resident, described sleeping in Sheikh Radwan streets north of Gaza City for three nights with his family before finding transportation for belongings. “We reached Deir al-Balah on empty land and are attempting to purchase wood and tent materials,” he explained.

Military Positioning Details

Eyewitnesses reported Wednesday that Israeli tanks and personnel are concentrated at Sheikh Radwan Pond, immediately north of Gaza City. Tuesday satellite imagery showed armored vehicles advancing toward the city from previous positions without entering urban boundaries. Equipment moved approximately two kilometers from Zikim Crossing along Gaza’s northern Israeli border.

Two major armored vehicle concentrations have assembled in Sheikh Radwan north of Gaza City, with additional detachments positioned along roads leading toward Israel. The military reports continued strikes against what it terms “Hamas positions” within Gaza City, including a weapons production facility targeted Monday.

Air strikes and artillery bombardment struck over 150 targets throughout Gaza City supporting ground forces during the past 24 hours. Palestinian health authorities reported strikes on Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital, Gaza’s only specialized pediatric facility, where 80 children were receiving treatment. The ministry reported three hits on upper floors without providing casualty details.

Medical Aid for Palestinians, an NGO operating in Gaza City, stated that hospital emergency departments are “overwhelmed with casualties and operating with severely depleted essential medicine and supply stocks.”

International Pressure Intensifies

Global criticism of the Gaza City operation continues mounting. China’s foreign ministry Wednesday strongly opposed the offensive and demanded immediate cessation of Israeli military operations in Gaza.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Canada condemned the Israeli offensive, while the European Commission proposed new trade sanctions targeting Israel and far-right Israeli ministers responding to the ongoing campaign.
If European Union member states approve these measures, the bloc’s free trade agreement with Israel will face partial suspension. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced last week that the Commission would propose suspending trade concessions, sanctioning extremist ministers and violent

settlers, and placing bilateral Israeli support on hold.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized that “the aim is not punishing Israel but improving Gaza’s humanitarian situation.”

However, some member states express reservations about such comprehensive measures. The EU represents Israel’s largest trading partner, comprising 32 percent of Israel’s total goods trade based on 2024 data.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar characterized Europe’s actions as “morally and politically distorted,” arguing that “anti-Israel moves will damage Europe’s own interests.”