Israel declared Gaza’s largest city a combat zone and recovered the bodies of two hostages on Friday, as the army launched the start of a planned offensive that has drawn international condemnation.
The military’s announcement of the resumption of fighting came as health officials said the death toll in Gaza had risen to 63,025, with 59 deaths reported in hospitals in the past 24 hours.
The increase came after Israel announced plans to expand its offensive in the city, where hundreds of thousands are starving to death.
Heavy explosions and smoke could also be heard in southern Israel on Friday morning.
In addition, Israel has called Gaza City a Hamas stronghold, saying a network of tunnels remains in use despite several previous major attacks on the area during the nearly 23-month war.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also said that Israel must cut off Hamas’s capabilities in the city to prevent a repeat of what happened on October 7, 2023.
