Bolt removed from gates of hell, says Israeli minster as high-rise tower levelled

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has said, "the bolt is now being removed from the gates of hell" in Gaza. 

“When the gate is opened, it will not be closed, and [Israeli military] activity will intensify,” he said in a statement on X.

The statement comes as Israel issued its first formal evacuation notice to residents of a high-rise tower in Gaza City, followed by the levelling of the 12-storey Mushtaha tower to the ground. 

Al Jazeera has reported huge plumes of black smoke coming from the area. Witnesses in the area report that the ground was shaking beneath their feet when the tower was targeted.

Israeli military has confirmed to AFP that it struck a high-rise building in Gaza City on Friday, shortly after announcing it would target a range of structures, particularly tall buildings. 

Israel has been intensifying its bombardments ever since announcing its plans to capture the Palestinian territory's largest urban centre.