Fri Sep 05 15:39:36 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and rewritten news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
On September 5, 2025, Israel intensified its offensive in Gaza City, striking the Mushtaha tower, which it claimed was used for Hamas surveillance. This escalation is part of a larger plan to take over Gaza City, mobilizing reservists and issuing evacuation warnings. The strike has drawn condemnation internationally and sparked domestic opposition due to concerns for the safety of remaining hostages held in Gaza. Hamas released a propaganda video featuring two hostages, pleading for an end to the war. Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities report numerous deaths in Gaza, and the overall death toll since the start of the conflict continues to rise.
**News Article:**
**Israel Escalates Offensive in Gaza City, Strikes High-Rise Amid Hostage Concerns**
**DEIR AL-BALAH – September 5, 2025** – Israeli forces intensified their offensive in Gaza City on Friday, striking the Mushtaha tower as part of a broader operation to seize control of the Hamas stronghold. The strike, which Israel claims targeted a Hamas surveillance site, has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed concerns for the safety of hostages still held in Gaza.
Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that the strike was just the beginning, signaling a further escalation of military activity. “When the door opens it will not close,” Katz stated, indicating a sustained and intensified operation.
The attack comes as Israel mobilizes tens of thousands of reservists and continues to issue evacuation warnings to Palestinian residents, ordering them to evacuate to the southern side of the strip. The city has been designated a combat zone by the IDF.
Palestinian sources confirmed the Mushtaha tower, located in the Rimal neighborhood, was the target of the strike. While the building had previously sustained damage, this marks the first strike since Israel announced its operation to take over Gaza City.
“The army didn’t allow people time to evacuate the building ahead of the strike,” claimed Gaza City resident Ahmed al-Boari, noting that many displaced families had recently sought refuge in the area. The number of casualties remains unclear.
The offensive has ignited protests within Israel, with demonstrators expressing fears for the well-being of the remaining 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Adding to the anxieties, Hamas released a propaganda video on Friday featuring two hostages, Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel, pleading for an end to the war. The authenticity of the video and the conditions under which it was filmed are unconfirmed.
Despite the international and domestic pressure, Israel has pressed on with its offensive. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports that 69 bodies were brought to hospitals in Gaza in the past 24 hours.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel and abducted 251. Israel’s retaliatory attacks have resulted in the deaths of over 64,000 Palestinians in the nearly two-year war.
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