Local residents and eyewitnesses say dozens of Israeli tanks and military vehicles have pushed into a major residential district of Gaza City, on the second day of Israel's ground offensive aimed at occupying the area.
Video footage shows tanks, bulldozers and armored personnel carriers moving on the edges of Sheikh Radwan, in northern Gaza City. Thick clouds of smoke can be seen as Israeli forces fire artillery shells and smoke bombs to cover their advance.
The Sheikh Radwan district was home to tens of thousands of people before the war and is considered one of the city's most densely populated areas.
Israel says the aim of its Gaza City offensive is to free hostages held by Hamas and defeat up to 3,000 fighters in what it describes as the group's last stronghold - but the operation has drawn widespread international condemnation.
The leaders of more than 20 major aid agencies, including Save the Children and Oxfam, warned that the inhumanity of the situation in Gaza is unconscionable.
Residents in Sheikh Radwan said Wednesday's incursion followed a wave of heavy airstrikes targeting buildings and main streets across the neighborhood, in what appeared to be preparation for the ground assault.
Saad Hamada, a local resident who fled south with his family earlier on Wednesday, told the BBC: The drones didn't leave anything. They hit solar panels, power generators, water tanks, even the internet network. Life became impossible, and that is what forced most people to leave despite the danger.
Sheikh Radwan includes the areas of Abu Iskandar, al-Tawam, and al-Saftawi, and is intersected by al-Jalaa Street, a vital artery linking central Gaza City with its northern districts.
Locals say Israeli control of the neighborhood could open the way for forces to advance deeper into the city and reach its central areas.
Before the war, Sheikh Radwan was one of Gaza City's busiest districts, home to dozens of schools, mosques, and marketplaces. It had already been struck repeatedly by air raids in recent months, and there is widespread destruction, but the sight of tanks inside the area now marks a significant new phase in Israel's ground campaign.
The IDF announced that it had struck more than 150 targets across Gaza City in support of its ground troops. As part of its operations, the IDF is reportedly utilizing old military vehicles loaded with explosives that have been modified to be controlled remotely.
Resident Nidal al-Sherbi told the BBC Arabic's Middle East Daily program: Last night was extremely difficult, with continuous explosions and shelling that lasted from night until dawn.
Israel's war in Gaza began after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in numerous casualties and hostages. Since then, more than 65,000 people have reportedly been killed in Israeli attacks, leading to a dire humanitarian crisis.
