Israel has commenced a fresh ground offensive into Gaza City, urging residents to relocate south.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the ground operation began on Tuesday, with troops seeking to establish tighter control over the largest city in the Palestinian territory.
This push into Gaza City serves as a direct continuation of Operation Gideon’s Chariots, a multi-week campaign across southern and central Gaza which reportedly dismantled Hamas positions and cleared paths for troops to advance northward. The IDF announced that multiple divisions have initiated movements as part of an “expanded ground operation,” aimed at dismantling Hamas infrastructure, solidifying earlier gains, and penetrating deeper into the city.
The latest assault follows a week during which the Israeli air force struck over 850 targets in Gaza City, purportedly killing hundreds of Hamas fighters and destroying infrastructure intended to impede a ground incursion. These strikes, it stated, were designed to degrade Hamas’s defenses and prepare the battleground for advancing forces.
An Israeli military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to military guidelines, informed The Associated Press that approximately 2,000 to 3,000 Hamas militants, along with a network of tunnels, remain in Gaza City.
This offensive marks yet another escalation in a conflict that has destabilized the Middle East, with any potential ceasefire appearing increasingly unattainable despite months of diplomatic efforts.
Palestinian residents reported intense strikes across Gaza City on Tuesday morning. By midday, Shifa Hospital had received the bodies of 34 individuals killed in the strikes, Dr. Rami Mhanna, a hospital official, told The Associated Press. Dozens more wounded also arrived at the facility.
“A profoundly difficult night in Gaza,” Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiyah, Shifa’s director, shared with the AP. “The bombing was incessant, without a single moment of pause.”
Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson, issued a warning to residents that Gaza City is now a “dangerous combat zone.”
“For your safety, evacuate as swiftly as possible to the designated safe areas, by vehicle or on foot, via the Al-Rashid corridor situated south of Wadi Gaza,” Adraee advised. “Join the more than 40% of the city’s inhabitants who have already evacuated to protect their own safety and that of their loved ones.”
The IDF estimates that 350,000 people have fled Gaza City—roughly one-third of the city’s population before the ground offensive commenced. This figure contrasts with a U.N. estimate issued Monday, which indicated that over 220,000 Palestinians had departed northern Gaza over the past month, following Israeli warnings to evacuate in advance of the operation.
On Tuesday, long lines of traffic extended along Gaza’s coastal road, with vehicles piled high with mattresses and belongings, while others departed on foot.
The IDF confirmed that several of its frontline divisions have been mobilized for this new phase.
“In the past day, IDF troops within the Southern Command, comprising personnel from the 98th, 162nd, and 36th Divisions—including both mandatory and reserve service members—have initiated expanded operations in Gaza City as part of Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots II,’” the military announced.
“The Gaza Division is operating within the security zone along the border facing the western Negev communities and is also active in the Rafah and Khan Yunis areas, while the 99th Division is conducting operations in the northern Gaza Strip.”
Meanwhile, the State Department reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio met in Doha with Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Rubio reaffirmed the ties between the U.S. and Qatar, expressing gratitude to Doha for its efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and facilitate the return of all hostages. Rubio also reiterated America’s unwavering support for Qatar’s security and sovereignty.