By WAFAA SHURAFA, SAMY MAGDY, and MELANIE LIDMAN, Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli military urged a full evacuation of Gaza City on Tuesday morning ahead of its planned expanded offensive in the northern city, where hundreds of thousands of people struggle under conditions of famine.

The announcement was the first warning for a full evacuation of the city in the current round of fighting. Previously, the military has warned specific sections of Gaza City to evacuate ahead of concentrated operations or strikes.

Associated Press reporters saw more cars and trucks than previous days passing from northern to southern Gaza on Tuesday, laden with supplies and people, but no widespread evacuation.

Israel says multiple towers destroyed in Gaza City

Defense Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday said Israel had demolished 30 high-rise buildings in Gaza, which it accused Hamas of using for military infrastructure.

Palestinians inspect the damage after an Israeli army strike on a building in Gaza City, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, after the Israeli army issued a prior warning. (AP Photo/Yousef Al Zanoun)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel destroyed at least 50 “terror towers” that he said are used by Hamas. It was unclear if the towers Katz referred to are in addition to those announced by Netanyahu, who called the demolition of the high-rises “only the introduction, only the beginning of the main intensive operation — the ground incursion of our forces.”

The demolitions are part of Israel ramping up its offensive to take control of what it portrays as Hamas’ last remaining stronghold, urging Palestinians to flee parts of Gaza City for a designated humanitarian zone in the territory’s south.

Despite warnings, few Palestinians have left

Tuesday’s warnings were the most widespread evacuation warnings in the current round of fighting, though Israel’s previous warnings to leave specific neighborhoods have had little impact on a population that is exhausted from multiple displacements and unclear if moving to southern Gaza will really be safer.

Displaced Palestinians fleeing northern Gaza carry their belongings along the coastal road toward southern Gaza ,Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

There are an estimated 1 million Palestinians in the area of north Gaza around Gaza City, according to both the Israeli military and the United Nations, around half of Gaza’s population of 2.1 million. As of Sept. 7, a coalition of humanitarian groups tracking movement in northern Gaza said they had tracked 50,000 movements of people fleeing south. A similar number were people moved within northern Gaza.

The data from the coalition, called the Site Management Cluster, tracks movement from eyewitness accounts, social media posts and information from partners on the ground, because access to northern Gaza is restricted.

Military spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee warned last week that the evacuation of Gaza City was “inevitable,” saying families who move south would receive humanitarian assistance. But aid groups warned there was little infrastructure to support them.

Palestinians and hostage survivors protest Israeli operation

Dozens of Palestinians, including doctors and medical staff, took part in a protest in Gaza City on Tuesday that rejected the Israeli warnings.

Related Articles

Today in History: September 9, Attica prison uprising begins

Sweden’s plans to mine rare-earth minerals could ruin the lives of Indigenous Sami reindeer herders

Police open fire on protests of Nepal’s social media policy, killing at least 17

ICC presents evidence against warlord Joseph Kony in first in absentia hearing

US firm agrees $500 million investment deal with Pakistan for critical minerals

“We will never leave our land … health care workers won’t leave and we are calling for protection,” said Dr. Muneer al-Boursh, the general director of Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Dr. Rami Mhanna, managing director of Shifa Hospital, said although the situation in Gaza City was tense, the facility still operates and receives patients.

“So far, things are as usual,” he told The Associated Press, two hours after the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of Gaza City. “But the atmosphere is tense and there is great psychological pressure on the staff and patients.”

He said he didn’t notice displacement in and around the hospital.

In Jerusalem, families of hostages and former captives in Gaza pleaded with Israeli lawmakers to halt the Gaza City offensive.

“I was held captive by Hamas for 498 days and was released in a deal in February,” Iair Horn, whose brother, Eitan, is still in captivity, told the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. “If I was released through a deal, then apparently that’s the right way to free the rest of the hostages who remain.”

UN says families can’t afford to move

The United Nations humanitarian agency said many families can’t evacuate even if they want to, because displacement sites are overcrowded and because it can cost more than $1,000 to move to southern Gaza, a prohibitive cost for many.

A U.N. initiative to bring temporary shelters into Gaza said that more than 86,000 tents and other supplies were still awaiting clearance to enter Gaza as of last week.

The U.N. agency that oversees Palestinian refugees said Tuesday said that Israeli attacks on residential towers in Gaza City had displaced dozens of families, with many of them having been left “on the streets without shelter or basic necessities.”

COGAT, the Israeli defense body overseeing humanitarian aid to Gaza said 1,500 humanitarian aid trucks primarily containing food entered Gaza last week, and there are plans to bring in 100,000 tents in the coming weeks, many of which are currently waiting in Jordan. The tents needed to be adapted to swap metal poles, which COGAT said were repurposed into rockets used by militants, with plastic poles.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas abducted 251 people on Oct. 7, 2023, and killed some 1,200 people, mostly Israeli civilians. Forty-eight hostages are still inside Gaza, around 20 of them believed to be alive.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 64,522 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or combatants. It says around half of those killed were women and children. Large parts of major cities have been completely destroyed and around 90% of the population of some 2 million Palestinians have been displaced.

2 Palestinian teenagers killed in the West Bank

Two 14-year-old Palestinian boys were killed in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Monday, according to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Health Ministry.

The Israeli military said the incident happened in the northern West Bank City of Jenin, where several people approached Israeli soldiers in a way that “posed a threat.” The area was under military closure and entry was prohibited at the time, the military said, without providing further information.

Also in the West Bank, an Israeli investigation continued into two Palestinians who opened fire at a bus stop in Jerusalem on Monday, killing six people. It was the deadliest attack against civilians in Israel in nearly a year.

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Tuesday he placed sanctions on the relatives and residents of the towns where the two attackers are from, will order all buildings constructed without permits to be demolished, and canceled 750 work visas for town residents.

Magdy reported from Cairo and Lidman from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writer Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 9, the 252nd day of 2025. There are 113 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Sept. 9, 1971, prisoners seized control of the maximum-security Attica Correctional Facility near Buffalo, New York, taking 42 staff members hostage and demanding improvements to inmate treatment and living conditions.

Also on this date:

In 1776, the second Continental Congress formally adopted the name “United States of America,” replacing the “United Colonies of North America.”

Related Articles

AI shakes up the call center industry, but some tasks are still better left to the humans

Decades-old mystery solved: girl identified as New Hampshire serial killer’s daughter

President Donald Trump’s administration announces immigration surge to begin in Chicago

Musk’s SpaceX spends $17 billion to acquire spectrum licenses from EchoStar

Judge skewers $1.5B Anthropic settlement with authors in pirated books case over AI training

In 1850, California was admitted as the 31st U.S. state.

In 1919, about 1,100 members of Boston’s 1,500-member police force went on strike. The strike was broken by Massachusetts Gov. Calvin Coolidge with replacement officers.

In 1948, the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea) was declared.

In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the first civil rights bill to pass Congress since Reconstruction, a measure primarily concerned with protecting voting rights. It also established a Civil Rights Division in the U.S. Department of Justice.

In 2022, King Charles III gave his first speech to Britain as its new monarch, vowing to carry on the “lifelong service” of his mother Queen Elizabeth II, who died a day earlier.

Today’s Birthdays:

Singer Dee Dee Sharp is 80.
Former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann is 76.
Actor Angela Cartwright is 73.
Musician-producer Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) is 73.
Actor Hugh Grant is 65.
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., is 62.
Actor Constance Marie is 60.
Actor Adam Sandler is 59.
Actor Julia Sawalha (suh-WAHL’-hah) is 57.
Model Rachel Hunter is 56.
Actor Eric Stonestreet is 54.
Actor Henry Thomas is 54.
Actor Goran Visnjic (VEEZ’-nihch) is 53.
Pop-jazz singer Michael Bublé (boo-BLAY’) is 50.
Actor Michelle Williams is 45.
Actor Zoe Kazan is 42.
Soccer player Luka Modrić is 40.
Country singer-songwriter Hunter Hayes is 34.

CHICAGO — The conversation about young quarterback J.J. McCarthy could’ve gone much differently had he not found his rhythm on Monday night at Soldier Field.

There were growing pains for McCarthy in his NFL debut, and as a result, the Vikings found themselves chasing the game.

As soon as McCarthy found his stride, however, he helped lead a comeback that ended with the Vikings walking away with 24-27 win over the Chicago Bears.

It was an impressive turnaround from McCarthy considering how much he struggled for the Vikings in the the early stages. On the other side, quarterback Caleb Williams crumbled down the stretch for the Bears, proving that he still has a long way to go

Here are some takeaways the Vikings’ 27-24 win over the Bears:

J.J. McCarthy proved he’s the guy

There were a number of times that McCarthy could’ve folded under pressure. Like when he was struggling to string together drives before halftime. Or when he immediately threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown after halftime.

That’s simply not how McCarthy is wired. There’s a reason he’s won at every level. He never loses confidence in himself, which, in turn, makes it easy for his teammates to maintain their confidence in him.

A perfect example of that came in primetime.

Never mind that McCarthy hadn’t moved the ball much to that point. He led the offense on a trio of scoring drives in the final frame, throwing for a pair of touchdowns, and rushing for a touchdown, as well, which helped propel the Vikings to a win over the Bears.

The mental fortitude that McCarthy displayed along the way is why so many people walked away feeling like he was the right guy to lead the Vikings into the future.

Jordan Mason looked the part

If the Vikings didn’t have running back Jordan Mason on their roster, they might have lost the game to the Bears.

That speaks to Mason’s effectiveness while logging 15 carries for 68 yards. Who cares that he didn’t find the end zone? That’s going to come at some point.

There was a pivotal stretch during which Mason helped take the edge off with a couple of runs that went for big gains. That opened everything up downfield and McCarthy was able to hit star receiver Justin Jefferson for a touchdown that gave the Vikings some life.

It’s a credit to general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah that Mason is a part of the equation. He swung a deal with the San Francisco 49ers to acquire Mason for what basically amounted to a late draft pick.

It’s looking more like a heist in hindsight given how impactful Mason looks in the backfield.

Javon Hargrave couldn’t be contained

There were so many contributors for the Vikings on the defensive line that it doesn’t feel right to single out a player.That said, veteran defensive tackle Javon Hargrave was so dominant in the trenches that, well, he must be mentioned on his own.

It’d be an understatement to say Hargrave lived up to the hype in his first game with the Vikings. He finished with a pair of sacks while consistently making life miserable for the offensive line on the other end.

Though none of his peers were credited with sacks, they made their presence felt, whether it was veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, young defensive tackle Jalen Redmond, or any of the other players in the rotation.

It’s pretty clear that unit up front is going to be massive for the Vikings moving forward.

Eric Wilson stepped up big time

The train could’ve gone off the tracks after starting linebacker Blake Cashman left the game with hamstring injury. The fact that it didn’t is a testament to veteran linebacker Eric Wilson and his preparation.

Not only did Wilson take over as the person wearing the helmet that gets the play call from defensive coordinator Brian Flores, he didn’t miss a beat while making sure everybody was on the same page.

That why the Vikings went out an signed Wilson as a free agent.

On top of making a difference on defense, Wilson continued to be an ace on special teams, partially blocking a punt late to give the Vikings the ball back in a good spot. He was everything everywhere all at once.

Myles Pride was a pleasant surprise

It might not be hyperbole to say receiver Myles Price is already the best punter returner the Vikings have had since cornerback Marcus Sherels proudly held down the role for nearly a decade.

That’s how good Price was in his NFL debut.

After coming to the Vikings as an undrafted free agent, Price slowly started to separate himself from his peers in the competition to be the starting punt returner. He won the job out of training camp and proved to be the right choice.

Not only did Price look comfortable catching the ball out of the air, he finished with 4 punt returns for 68 yards. That average from Price was more than 10 yards more than than receiver Brandon Powell averaged previously as the punt return.

Related Articles

Born in the 4th: J.J. McCarthy leads Vikings to comeback win over Bears

J.J. McCarthy’s family and friends flood tailgate lot ahead of NFL debut

Justin Jefferson was smart this summer to be ready for the Vikings this fall

Frederick: Vikings’ playoff hopes rest on J.J. McCarthy performing early

The Loop Fantasy Football Report Week 1: Last-minute moves

Minnesota House Democrats elected Rep. Zack Stephenson as their new caucus leader on Monday, ending a months-long vacancy after the assassination of former House Speaker Rep. Melissa Hortman.

Stephenson, a representative from Coon Rapids, was first elected to the Minnesota House in 2018. He’s an assistant Hennepin County prosecutor and was the key House sponsor of the 2023 bill that legalized recreational marijuana in Minnesota.

Undated courtesy photo from the 2025-26 Minnesota legislative session of Rep. Zack Stephenson, DFL-Coon Rapids. (Courtesy of the Minnesota House of Representatives)

In a news release on his election as caucus leader, Stephenson said he was honored to receive his colleagues’ support and described Hortman as “irreplaceable” as a leader and friend.

“While I’ve been chosen to lead, it will take all of us, working together, to move forward, honor Speaker Hortman’s legacy, and build a Minnesota where everyone can succeed,” he said. “We are all still grieving, but I am confident we can carry our shared work into the future.”

Stephenson, 41, chaired the House Commerce Committee when the DFL held the majority. He also co-chairs the influential House Ways and Means Committee, which reviews fiscal aspects of bills before they reach the House floor.

Before entering the legal profession and elected office, Stephenson managed Hortman’s first successful campaign for the state House in 2004 and worked as a staffer for U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar before attending law school at the University of Chicago in the late 2000s.

Hortman had led the House Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus since 2017, first as the minority party. Her party elected her speaker after they won a House majority in the 2018 election, and she served in that role until the beginning of this year.

Hortman lost the speakership after Republicans ended the DFL majority in the 2024 election, which delivered a House tied 67-67 between the parties. She continued to serve as House DFL leader.

Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed by a gunman at their home in Brooklyn Park on June 14. The alleged shooter, who faces federal and state charges, also shot and injured state Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, and his wife, Yvette, at their home.

House DFLers are currently in the minority, though the Legislature isn’t scheduled to convene until February unless DFL Gov. Tim Walz calls lawmakers back to the state Capitol for a special session on gun violence — something he has signaled could happen in the wake of deadly shootings at a Minneapolis Catholic church and school last month.

The House DFL currently has 66 seats to Republicans’ 67, and that balance will remain until the Sept. 16 special election for Hortman’s former seat in House District 34B, which includes Brooklyn Park as well as parts of Champlin and Coon Rapids.

It’s widely expected that the DFL candidate, Xp Lee, will win that race and return the balance to 67-67.

Related Articles

Joe Soucheray: To keep each other safe, we’ll ‘pray with our feet’

Letters: Any law short of banning all semi-automatic weapons would be pointless. Instead …

Doherty, Thiemann: Let’s approach the gun argument differently this time

Minnesota State Auditor Julie Blaha won’t seek reelection

Metro mayors seek local gun control powers as Walz plans special session