On Tuesday, Israeli drones dropped gas and smoke bombs on Palestinian homes near the crowded Al-Shifa Medical Complex west of Gaza City, as part of the army’s efforts to occupy the city and forcibly displace Palestinians.

Witnesses told Anadolu Agency that Israeli drones of the “Quadcopter” type dropped gas and smoke bombs on civilian homes near Al-Shifa Medical Complex after flying at low altitudes.

The witnesses noted that smoke and gas from the bombs infiltrated patient rooms inside Al-Shifa Medical Complex, causing fear among patients and the injured.

Israel has been intensively attacking the area around Al-Shifa Medical Complex, densely populated with civilians, for days. Palestinians view this policy as aimed at displacing them towards the southern parts of the Gaza Strip.

The area surrounding Al-Shifa Medical Complex is crowded with Palestinians displaced from the eastern and northern neighborhoods of Gaza City following intensified Israeli attacks.

On Monday, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that nearly half a million Palestinians are trapped in Gaza City within an area not exceeding 8 square kilometers.

The Gaza Governorate covers 74.6 square kilometers, most of which is controlled by Israel, which is gradually expanding its control with the aim of full occupation, according to a plan announced by the Israeli government last August.

On August 8, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved a plan to occupy Gaza City, and the army launched a large-scale attack to occupy the city on August 11.

The Israeli army has continued its offensive on Gaza City since August 11 under the operation named “Gideon’s Vehicles 2,” which included house demolitions using explosive robots, artillery shelling, random gunfire, forced displacement, and ground incursions.