The Israel Defense Forces have stepped up air and artillery strikes on Gaza City, concentrating on the Zeitoun neighborhood, as part of preparations for a ground push aimed at seizing full control of the enclave’s largest urban center. Israel’s chief of staff said the military will shortly enter the next phase of Operation “Gideon’s Chariots,” describing it as a long-term strategy rather than a standalone action. He pledged to deploy the army’s full ground, air and naval capabilities to “deepen the attack” on Hamas until the Islamist group is defeated, while maintaining the release of Israeli hostages as a primary objective. Gaza’s rescue services reported mounting difficulty reaching casualties amid near-continuous fire. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 11 people died of hunger and 62 were killed by Israeli fire in the past 24 hours. The IDF said it would allow tents to enter the strip on Sunday to facilitate what it described as the relocation of civilians ahead of the intensified offensive.