Israel says controlling 40 pct of Gaza City, vows to expand offensive

JERUSALEM -- Israel's military spokesperson Effie Defrin said Thursday that Israeli forces control about 40 percent of Gaza City and will "expand and intensify" the offensive in the coming days to seize the enclave's largest urban center.

Defrin said in a briefing that as part of the assault, which he said began "in recent weeks," tens of thousands of reservists have been mobilized to join regular forces currently maneuvering in the Zeitoun neighborhood in the southeast of the city and in Sheikh Radwan in the north.

"Hamas will meet the full force of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) in Gaza City," Defrin said. "We will increase the pressure on Hamas until its defeat."

Defrin showed aerial video footage of several blocks exploding, which he said was the destruction of underground infrastructure in Zeitoun.

His remarks came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas' offer to pursue a "comprehensive deal" to end the war and secure the release of hostages, describing it as "spin."

Israel's new assault on Gaza City, already devastated by nearly two years of intensive attacks, drew condemnation over its impact on civilians. Israeli strikes have destroyed much of the city's infrastructure, large parts of the population have been displaced multiple times, and aid groups say famine is taking hold.

Since Oct 7, 2023, Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed 64,232 people and injured 161,583 others, Gaza-based health authorities said Thursday, adding that starvation and malnutrition in Gaza have caused 370 deaths, including 131 children.