Israeli tanks were stationed on the edge of Gaza City on Wednesday ahead of a planned ground operation into the enclave’s largest urban area, according to eyewitnesses and satellite imagery.
Amid the military buildup, tens of thousands of Palestinians continued to leave the city, which was estimated to have a total of about 1 million inhabitants — many of them already displaced multiple times.
Israeli officials announced Tuesday that the ground operation had begun, but eyewitnesses and satellite images revealed that tanks had yet to enter the city. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is at a “critical stage” in the war as it attacks Gaza City, which his government sees as one of the last remaining strongholds of Hamas.
The United Nations and others have warned that…
