Israeli Tanks Push Deeper Into Gaza City, Dozens of Injured Trapped

CAIRO, Sept 28 (V0M):Israeli tanks pressed deeper into Gaza City’s residential neighborhoods on Sunday, with local health officials warning that dozens of injured civilians remain trapped and unreachable due to ongoing fighting.

Witnesses reported heavy incursions into the Sabra, Tel Al-Hawa, Sheikh Radwan, and Al-Naser districts, with armored units advancing closer to the heart of Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands of residents are sheltering.

Israel launched its long-anticipated ground assault on the city on September 16, following weeks of intensified air and artillery strikes. While the campaign has forced thousands to flee, hundreds of thousands remain trapped amid worsening humanitarian conditions.

Hamas confirmed Sunday that it had not received any new ceasefire proposal, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s optimism last week that “a deal on Gaza” was possible. Trump is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday to discuss the conflict.

Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee is scheduled to travel to Egypt for talks with Cairo, which has been playing a key role in mediation efforts alongside Washington and Qatar.

Gaza’s Civil Emergency Service said Israel rejected 73 international requests on Saturday to allow rescue teams into affected areas. Medics said many wounded remain stranded under rubble or in conflict zones.

Israel’s military confirmed expanded operations in Gaza City, reporting that airstrikes killed five militants who had fired an anti-tank missile at its forces. It said 140 “military targets” were hit in the past 24 hours.

Local health authorities said at least five people were killed in an airstrike on Al-Naser, while 16 more died in central Gaza following strikes on residential homes, raising Sunday’s toll to at least 21.

The World Health Organization reported that four health facilities in Gaza City have been forced to close this month, while UN officials said malnutrition centers have also shut down. The World Food Programme estimates that up to 400,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City since August, but hundreds of thousands remain trapped.

Israel says its campaign is aimed at eliminating Hamas, whose October 2023 attack left 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage. Since then, Gaza’s health ministry reports more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed, while nearly the entire enclave has been displaced and its health system left in ruins.