Israel Destroys Second High-Rise as Assault on Gaza City Intensifies

Israel Destroys Second High-Rise as Assault on Gaza City Intensifies

Gaza City (September 6, 2025) Amid an escalating military offensive, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have demolished a second high-rise building in Gaza City, marking a dramatic expansion of airstrikes targeting urban infrastructure.

Today’s strike followed a similar attack on the Mushtaha Tower, a 12-story building targeted on Friday after evacuation warnings. The IDF claimed these structures were being used by Hamas for operations and intelligence activities. Palestinian authorities and residents, by contrast, say they served as shelters for displaced civilians.ReutersNew York PostAP NewsAl JazeeraThe Times of India

High-Rise Demolitions and Civilian Toll

The latest building, Soussi Tower, a 15-story residential high-rise, collapsed amid videotaped scenes of plumes of dust and debris, a second such demolition in just two days.The Times of India The offensive has triggered widespread chaos and deepened the humanitarian emergency in Gaza. Aid organizations highlight that repeated evacuations, famine, and overcrowding have made alternative shelters nearly impossible to use.AP NewsThe Guardian

The IDF asserted that evacuation orders were issued prior to each strike. Still, Palestinian health services report that Israeli attacks killed at least 40 people across the enclave on Saturday, with half of those casualties concentrated in Gaza City.Reuters+1AP NewsThe Guardian

Strategic and Political Context

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed a full-scale operation to capture Gaza City, deemed a Hamas stronghold, despite reservations from military leadership. Staff have been mobilized, and the IDF claims to control nearly 50% of the city and 75% of the broader Gaza Strip.Reuters+1Wikipedia

The destruction of these towers aligns with Israel’s strategy to neutralize Hamas’ alleged use of civilian structures for military advantage, including surveillance and command operations. However, critics argue the strikes result in collective punishment, fueling further displacement and civilian suffering. Analysts note that shattering Gaza’s skyline also inflicts psychological trauma and disorientation on the population.OmniAl JazeeraWikipedia

Humanitarian Alarm and Global Outcry

Humanitarian agencies warn that ongoing high-rise demolitions will exacerbate conditions already marked by famine and medical collapse. The UN has flagged that over 21,000 Gaza children have been disabled since the conflict began, and structures like schools and clinics have not been spared.The Guardian

Meanwhile, global voices are demanding restraint. Amnesty International has called for an end to the military offensive, citing mass displacement and civilian casualties. Families of Israeli hostages continue to press for a diplomatic resolution, while Hamas has reiterated ceasefire proposals that Israel has thus far declined.ReutersAP NewsThe Guardian

What began as a campaign to dismantle Hamas’s command and control infrastructure has dramatically expanded into a full-scale urban assault, with Gaza City's skyline literally and figuratively collapsing under intense bombardment. The second high-rise demolition underscores a turning point, one fraught with humanitarian reverberations, political deadlock, and potential long-term scars on both communities.