L061-GAZA BOMBARDEO

Israel bombed on Monday (September 8) a 12-floor block in the middle of Gaza City, known as Al-Roya 2 building, where dozens of displaced families had been housed, three hours after urging those inside and in hundreds of tents in the surrounding area to leave.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Hamas militants who had "planted intelligence gathering means" and explosive devices had been operating near the building and "have used it throughout the war to plan and advance terror attacks against IDF forces."

Israel had earlier said it would step up airstrikes on Gaza on Monday in a "mighty hurricane," to serve as a last warning to Hamas that it will destroy the enclave unless fighters accept a demand to free all hostages and surrender.

Residents said Israeli forces had bombed Gaza City from the air and blown up old armored vehicles in its streets. Hamas said it was studying the latest U.S. ceasefire proposal, delivered on Sunday (September 8) with a warning from President Donald Trump that it was the militant group's "last chance."

The war began with an assault by Hamas-led fighters on southern Israel in 2023. The attackers killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures, and took more than 250 hostages to Gaza. Most of the hostages were released in ceasefires in November 2023 and January-March 2025, but the group has kept others as a bargaining chip.

Israel's assault has reduced much of the enclave to rubble and caused a humanitarian catastrophe. More than 64,000 Palestinians have been confirmed killed, according to health officials in Gaza.