Israeli Forces Advance Deeper into Gaza City, Killing at Least 21 Palestinians

Israeli forces pushed deeper into Gaza City on September 19, 2025, escalating their ground offensive with tanks and infantry, while airstrikes continued to pound residential neighborhoods. According to local reports and medical sources, at least 21 Palestinians were killed in the latest wave of attacks, with dozens more wounded. The ongoing military campaign has left much of the territory without phone and internet connections, severely hampering civilian movement and emergency response.

Intensified Military Operations and Civilian Impact

The Israeli military announced it would operate with "unprecedented force" in Gaza City, urging residents to flee southwards and closing a key evacuation route, Salah Al-Din Road, after a 48-hour window. The closure has left many civilians trapped, as overcrowding and lack of resources in southern areas make relocation nearly impossible for many families. Eyewitnesses described relentless shelling and airstrikes, with some residents reporting they had lost everything and had nowhere safe to go. The World Health Organization has warned that hospitals in Gaza are on the brink of collapse, unable to cope with the influx of casualties and the lack of medical supplies.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

The United Nations and humanitarian agencies report that the last remaining civilian lifelines in Gaza City are collapsing. In the past five days alone, 11 emergency shelters housing around 11,000 people have been destroyed or rendered unusable. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs highlighted that no new aid has entered northern Gaza since the closure of the Zakim crossing, exacerbating famine conditions and leaving thousands of victims trapped under rubble, inaccessible to rescue teams. The total Palestinian death toll since October 2023 has surpassed 65,000, with over 165,000 injured, according to local health authorities and figures considered reliable by the UN.

International Response and Political Tensions

The latest escalation comes as the United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza. The US representative argued that the resolution failed to sufficiently condemn Hamas and recognize Israel's right to self-defense. Meanwhile, international outrage is mounting over the scale of destruction and civilian suffering, with several Western countries preparing to recognize a Palestinian state at an upcoming UN summit. The situation remains volatile, with no clear path to de-escalation as Israeli operations continue and humanitarian conditions deteriorate.