Israeli forces on Friday began a “preparatory operations for a powerful assault” on Gaza City, declaring the densely populated urban center a “dangerous combat zone,” according to an army statement.

The army spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a statement through the US social media company X that “based on the assessment of the situation and directives from the political leadership, it has been decided that starting today (Friday) at 10:00 a.m. (0700GMT), the local and temporary tactical pause in military activity will not apply to Gaza City, which will be considered a dangerous combat zone.”

The army spokesman said the army would continue offensive operations against “terrorist organizations,” while claiming to support humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip.

Eyewitnesses told Anadolu that intense firepower and airstrikes were concentrated in the northern and eastern districts of the city, with heavy smoke rising over residential areas.

Residents reported that Israeli warplanes were flying continuously over the city, while explosions and fires erupted in multiple neighborhoods, including Al-Karama, Al-Saftawi, Abu Iskandar, the end of Al-Jalaa Street, and the Intelligence Towers.

The declaration, issued by the Israeli army, comes despite the densely populated nature of the city and ongoing humanitarian crises.

In response, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) warned that “an intensified military operation in Gaza City would put around 1 million people at risk of being forcibly displaced again.”

“With famine already confirmed in the area, any further escalation would deepen suffering and push more people toward catastrophe,” it added.

Israel’s full blockade of Gaza, in place since early March, has created catastrophic conditions for its 2.4 million residents, leading to famine, widespread disease and the collapse of essential services.

Israel has killed around 63,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.