The Israeli Air Force struck over 500 targets in Gaza City this week in five main waves,

The Israeli Air Force struck over 500 targets in Gaza City this week in five main waves, as part of preparations for an upcoming major ground offensive against Hamas in the area, the military says.

The first three waves focused on Gaza City's Daraj, Tuffah, and Sheikh Radwan neighborhoods. In recent days, the IDF says it expanded its strikes to the Shati camp and additional areas in Sheikh Radwan.

The strikes have destroyed several high-rise towers that the IDF says were being used by Hamas for surveillance, as sniper posts, to store weapons, and some of which had tunnels running underneath them.

Ahead of the strikes, the IDF issued warnings to Palestinian civilians residing in the area.