Israel levels high-rise building, threatens to strike more

The Israeli army on Friday struck a 12-storey tower in Gaza City, north of the besieged enclave, and announced plans to destroy more high-rise buildings in densely populated residential areas.

The Israeli military said in a post on X that it destroyed al-Mushtaha residential building because it was used by Hamas, a claim denied by the Palestinian movement.

"Hamas established infrastructure above and below the building, from which they would direct terrorist attacks against IDF troops in the area," it added. 

The management of Mashtaha Tower has dismissed what it called the "occupation’s lies", confirming that the building contains no security equipment and is accessible only to displaced people.

Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened that military operations in the blockaded strip will only escalate unless Hamas agrees to what Israel has outlined in their ceasefire terms - including the movement's disarmament.

"The bolt is now being removed from the gates of Hell in Gaza," he said in a post on X. "Once the door is opened, it will not be closed, and IDF operations will intensify."

Hamas said the latest Israeli assault "represents an unprecedented challenge to international law and humanitarian norms."

"The attempts of war criminal [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and his fascist government to escape, nearly two years after the start of the war of extermination against innocent civilians, by expanding and prolonging the war will only bring them shame, failure, and further losses among their Nazi army."

The Israeli army has bombed and levelled the 12-storey Mushtaha Tower in Gaza City after issuing an evacuation order to its residents and declaring it would target a number of structures, particularly high-rise buildings. pic.twitter.com/mljPRH7B2c

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) September 5, 2025

While the army and Israeli officials said that expulsion orders have been issued, rights groups have described such displacement tactics as a "war crime".

Since Israel launched its genocide on the enclave in October 2023, it has routinely made accusations that civilian properties and public spaces - such as hospitals - are housing Hamas members.

According to a number of legal experts and rights groups, the mass destruction of buildings and agricultural lands in Gaza amount to collective punishment of Palestinian civilians, even if civilian property may have been used by armed groups in the past.

Over 64,300 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's 700-day genocide, with more than 162,000 others wounded.