Israeli Tanks Move To Gaza City's Heart After Trump Talks Peace

Israeli Military/DOK Israel Defense Forces (IDF)

JAKARTA - Israeli forces moved forward to the heart of Gaza on Wednesday, risking the lives of Palestinians who persisted with the hope of growing pressure on Israel for a ceasefire.

US President Donald Trump met with leaders of Muslim countries at the United Nations in New York on Tuesday for talks that the Emirati government news agency, WAM, said focused on ending the war.

Trump, who previously criticized the steps taken by a number of countries to pressure Israel by recognizing the Palestinian state, said gatherings with Israel would be the next meeting.

The Israeli government urged Gaza City residents to move south, but many have doubts, citing the widespread lack of security and hunger there.

"We moved to the west near the coast, but many families don't have time, tanks attack them suddenly," Thaer, a 35-year-old father of one from Tel Al-Hawa, said.

Israeli forces, which began approaching the city of more than one million people in August, have ignored calls for a halt to an attack that the government says aims to destroy the last stronghold of Hamas militants whose attacks on Israel by 2023 and its hostage-taking sparked war.

Medics said 20 people were killed and many others injured when Israeli airstrikes hit shelters housing refugee families near the market in the middle of the city. Two others died at home nearby.

The Israeli military said it was investigating reports of attacks on the shelter, where footage obtained by Reuters showed people were sorting out debris.

"We slept in God's protection, there was nothing - they didn't tell us, or didn't even give us a sign - it was shocking," said Sami Hajjaj.

"There are children and women, maybe about 200 people, six-seven families, this square is full of families," he said.

On the outskirts of Tel Al-Hawa, tanks enter densely populated areas and trap people in their homes, while more tanks are seen stationed near Al-Quds Hospital. The Palestinian Red Crescent says oxygen stations have been damaged.

Tanks have also moved closer to Gaza's largest hospital, Al Shifa, according to eyewitnesses and Hamas media.

On Monday, Palestinian authorities said the tank shooting damaged the Rantissi Hospital and endangered nearby Al-Naser eye hospital, forcing them to close.

Jordan, who runs the third hospital in the area, said it had moved it further south due to repeated bombings.

The Israeli military said it would continue to allow the provision of medical services and the functioning of health facilities in Gaza and staff and patients from Al-Naser and Rantisi to have been voluntarily evacuated.

Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Gaza City in northern Gaza, further south over the past few weeks, but many still live, saying there is no safe place for them to go.

Seven people were killed in Nuseirat and near Rafah in the south of Gaza, medics said. There has been no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which insisted its attack was aimed at ending Hamas' rule in the area.