Tanks and troops close in as Israel readies a massive Gaza City offensive—seen as the war’s defining battle—raising stakes for hostages and Hamas terrorists.

Sixty-four people were killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza in the past 24 hours, the territory's Hamas-run health ministry said.

Two years ago, Gaza’s largest city was sprawling with life. Classrooms brimmed with schoolchildren, markets were full of shoppers and beachside cafes offered respite for those escaping the stresses of a besieged enclave.