Israel stepped up air- and artillery strikes on Gaza City and surrounding districts this week, hitting residential buildings in Sheikh Radwan, Al-Sabra and Al-Zaytoun as well as tent camps for displaced families in Al-Mawasi near Khan Younis. Local medics said at least 21 people were killed across the enclave on Thursday alone, while the Gaza Health Ministry put the death toll from the past 24 hours at 71, with dozens more wounded. The Israel Defense Forces said the operations targeted Hamas infrastructure and repeated that the evacuation of Gaza City is "inevitable" ahead of an expanded ground offensive. Residents reported loudspeaker and leaflet warnings to leave eastern neighbourhoods as shelling intensified. UN Secretary-General António Guterres cautioned that a broader assault would have “devastating” humanitarian consequences for civilians already facing famine-level shortages of food and medicine. In Washington, President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar for talks on post-war governance of the territory. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the discussions covered regional security, Iran and potential frameworks for Gaza’s reconstruction. Aid agencies warned that any new military push could further disrupt relief deliveries to the enclave’s two million residents.