Online Desk : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday urged residents of Gaza City to evacuate, as the military escalated its offensive on the densely populated urban center.

The move comes amid ongoing international calls for restraint, which Israel has largely ignored as it prepares a full-scale ground operation.

The intensified bombardment of Gaza City has already resulted in at least 39 Palestinian deaths on Monday alone, including 25 in the city, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency.

Netanyahu’s warning followed a deadly attack in Jerusalem earlier in the day, in which two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on a bus, killing six people. The assailants were later shot dead by a security officer and an armed civilian. “These murders strengthen our determination to fight terrorism,” Netanyahu said.

Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, issued a harsh ultimatum to Hamas, calling for an immediate surrender. “This is a final warning… Release the hostages and put down your weapons—or Gaza will be destroyed and you will be annihilated,” Katz wrote on X.

Israeli forces have targeted high-rise buildings in Gaza for several consecutive days. On Monday, the Al-Ruya tower in Gaza City was destroyed after being hit by airstrikes. Israel claims Hamas used the tower for intelligence operations and had planted explosives there. Residents were warned in advance to evacuate.

"In two days we brought down 50 terror towers," Netanyahu said in a video statement, calling the current operations "just a prelude" to a larger ground maneuver planned for Gaza City. He again urged civilians to evacuate.

Meanwhile, in one of the many deadly incidents reported on Monday, a Palestinian father, Issa Suleiman, described how his one-year-old son was killed while his family slept in a tent. His wife and mother were seriously injured in the same attack.

The Israeli military also reported the deaths of four soldiers after Palestinian militants threw an explosive device into their tank.

The international community continues to express concern over Israel`s military campaign. UN human rights chief Volker Turk said Monday he was "horrified by the open use of genocidal rhetoric… by senior Israeli officials."

On the diplomatic front, US President Donald Trump stated Sunday that Israel had accepted terms for a potential ceasefire and called on Hamas to do the same. “This is my last warning,” Trump said. Hamas responded by expressing willingness to "immediately sit at the negotiating table" based on new ideas from the American side.

According to Hamas, any agreement would need to include a formal end to the war, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian committee to govern the territory.

US news outlet Axios reported that a new ceasefire and hostage deal was recently proposed by White House envoy Steve Witkoff. While details remain undisclosed, Trump hinted that updates would be shared soon.

Hamas had previously agreed to a ceasefire proposal involving a 60-day truce and phased release of hostages. Israel, however, has maintained its demand for the unconditional release of all hostages, Hamas’s disarmament, and the group’s withdrawal from Gaza.

According to Israeli figures, 1,219 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack. In response, Israel’s ongoing military campaign has killed at least 64,522 Palestinians—most of them civilians—according to the health ministry in Gaza, figures that the United Nations considers credible.

The war continues to draw global condemnation and shows no immediate signs of resolution.