Israel Defense Forces said airstrikes hit a high-rise building in Gaza City used by militant Hamas in the first new offensive to take total control of the city.

Palestinians flee as smoke billows from Mushtaha Tower, an apartment building in Gaza City on Friday, shortly after the Israeli Defense Forces announced they would target high-rises as part of their ongoing war against Hamas. Israel said the building was being used by Hamas. Photo by Omar Ishtiwi/UPI UPI Israeli Defense Forces announced they would target high-rise buildings as part of their ongoing war against Hamas. Photo by Omar Ishtiwi/UPI UPI Palestinians run as smoke billows from the Mushtaha Tower in Gaza City on Friday. Photo by Omar Ishtiwi/UPI UPI Palestinians run as smoke billows from the Mushtaha Tower after an Israeli airstrike shortly after the Israeli military announced its intention to target high-rise buildings, in Gaza City on Friday. Photo by Omar Ishtiwi/UPI UPI Palestinians run as smoke billows from the Mushtaha Tower in Gaza City on Friday. The airstrikes followed shortly after the Israeli military announced they would target high-rise buildings as part of their ongoing war in Photo by Omar Ishtiwi/UPI UPI

Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Israel Defense Forces said Friday that an airstrike hit a high-rise apartment building in Gaza City used by militant Hamas in the first escalated offensive to take total control of the Palestinian city.

The airstrikes occurred one day after a military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, told The New York Times that the IDf was in control of 40% the city. Last month, Israel announced the military offensive would expand in Gaza City, considered Hamas' last stronghold in Gaza.

A video on X shows the building collapsing after being hit by three missiles. ABC News verified the video of the bombings, which was near encampment tents in the Rimal neighborhood of western Gaza City.

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"The bolt is now being lifted from the gates of hell in Gaza," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on X before the airstrikes. "Once the gate is opened, it will not be closed, and IDF operations will intensify until Hamas murderers and rapists accept Israel's conditions to end the war, foremost among them the release of all the hostages and disarmament, or be destroyed."

The new offensive is not backed by IDF Chief of Staff Gen. Eyal Zamir, and the leaders of Mossad and Shin Bet military intelligence. They told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhau not to launch the operation because it would endanger the lives of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, cause heavy IDF casualties, inhibit the ability to dismantle Hamas and force Israel to rule over the region.

There originally were 2.4 million Palestinians on the Gaza Strip. Israel officials say only 70,000 remain on the 141 square miles.

On Friday, the IDF warned "over the coming days," several buildings will be attacked "that have been converted into terrorist infrastructure in preparation for expanding the operation into Gaza City: cameras, surveillance rooms, sniper and anti-tank missile launching positions, and command and control centers."

That includes the Mushtaha high-rise.

Two hours later, the building was bombed.

"We confirm that the tower, since its targeting last year, has been under strict supervision by the management, and only displaced civilians are allowed entry," the tower's management wrote in a statement to ABC News.

"We categorically confirm that the tower is free of any cameras or security equipment, and that all its floors are open and uncovered, containing no cameras, light or heavy weapons."

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IDF said Hamas planted explosive devices in the building, with the Israeli military intelligence alleging the militants planned to detonate them against Israeli forces.

The airstrikes are backed by U.S. Donald Trump, who posted Wednesday on Truth Social an ultimatum: "Tell Hamas to IMMEDIATELY give back all 20 Hostages (Not 2 or 5 or 7!), and things will change rapidly. IT WILL END!"

Hamas then issued a statement offering to release all hostages in exchange for an end to the war and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Netanyahu called it "spin."

Israeli officials believe 48 hostages are being held, with 20 believed to be alive.

On Thursday, White House envoy Steve Witkoff met with senior Qatari officials in Paris about reaching a deal for the release of all the remaining hostages held by Hamas in return for ending the war, two sources told Axios.

Hamas published a new video on Friday of two Israeli hostages held in Gaza City and said that their lives will be at risk if the IDF goes forward with its new offensive.

Since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said more than 64,000 Palestinians -- mostly women and children -- have died.

At least 69 Palestinians died and 422 were injured over the past 24 hours as a result of Israeli forces, the Health Ministry said Friday. Six people were killed and 190 were injured while trying to collect humanitarian aid, according to the health ministry.

And three people starved to death over the past 24 hours, the agency said, bringing the total to at least 376 people, including 134 children, since the 2023 attack.