Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning on Friday, stating that Gaza City could face destruction similar to that of Rafah and Beit Hanoun unless Hamas agrees to Israel's terms. This statement follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approval of military plans to seize Gaza City. Katz emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying, "Soon, the gates of hell will open on the heads of Hamas' murderers and rapists in Gaza - until they agree to Israel's conditions for ending the war, primarily the release of all hostages and their disarmament. If they do not agree - Gaza, the capital of Hamas, will become Rafah and Beit Hanoun. Exactly as I promised - so it will be."

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that ground troops are currently operating on the outskirts of Gaza City, focusing on locating and dismantling terrorist infrastructure both above and underground. The IDF plans to escalate military operations soon, targeting Gaza City and other Hamas strongholds in the Gaza Strip. Humanitarian organizations have raised concerns that this escalation will worsen the ongoing hunger crisis in the region.

On the same day, a United Nations-backed food security monitor announced a famine determination for Gaza City. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) elevated the classification for the region to Phase 5, the highest level of acute food insecurity. While the IPC does not officially declare a famine, its findings can guide decision-makers in governments and international bodies. The IPC report stated, "This famine is entirely man-made," and noted that it can be "halted and reversed."

In response, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, which oversees aid coordination to Gaza, rejected the famine claim, asserting that the IPC report is based on unreliable sources, many of which are affiliated with Hamas. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office also dismissed the IPC's findings, labeling them as "an outright lie" and "a modern blood libel."

The IDF confirmed that its troops are active in the Jabalia area, Khan Younis, and on the outskirts of Gaza City, with the objective of eliminating terrorists and dismantling their infrastructure. According to Gaza's Hamas-run Ministry of Health, at least 71 Palestinians were killed and 251 injured across the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours. Among the deceased were 24 individuals seeking humanitarian aid, while 133 others were injured in the process. Additionally, two people died of starvation, raising the total number of starvation-related deaths to 273, including 112 children.