Israeli troops press forward into Gaza City as Palestinians flee and death toll passes 65,000 World Sep 17, 2025 10:41 AM EDT

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Hamas war passed 65,000 on Wednesday, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, as Israeli troops and tanks pushed deeper into Gaza City and residents fled the devastated area.

Israel’s military said that air force and artillery units had struck the city over 150 times in the last few days, ahead of ground troops moving in. The strikes have toppled high-rise towers in areas densely populated by tent camps where thousands of Palestinians are sheltering. Israel claims the towers are being used by Hamas to surveil troops.

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